Seventy Grand

I’ve always wondered how much people actually spend on mobile games. A few bucks here and there, probably adds up to more than I’d want to calculate. But there’s always someone who goes further. Someone like Daigo.

Daigo is from Japan. He spent seventy thousand euros on Fate/Grand Order. Maybe more. He’s not entirely sure anymore.

Fate/Grand Order is a free-to-play mobile RPG where you collect cute anime warriors and wizards to fight monsters. You use cards to attack, spend real money for rare characters, grind for gear—it’s designed to drain you slowly, and Daigo let it.

My name is Daigo, he says, like he’s at a support group meeting. I play Fate/Grand Order. When I’m awake, I’m usually playing. I play while I eat. I play all the time. The only time I’m not playing is when I’m sleeping, driving, or in the bath. I’ve invested about seventy thousand euros. Maybe more. I’d rather not think about that.

Seventy thousand euros. Maybe more. Better not to think about it too hard.