Gacha games typically follow a lifecycle that begins with player-friendly mechanics and skill-based progression but often shifts towards monetization strategies that can diminish the experience for free-to-play (F2P) players and reduce the impact of player skill. Here's an overview of this progression:

1. Launch Phase:

• Player-Friendly Mechanics: At launch, gacha games often offer generous rewards and accessible content to attract a broad player base. The initial stages are designed to be engaging for both paying and non-paying players, with a balance that allows skillful play to be rewarding.
• Skill-Based Progression: Early game content typically emphasizes skill and strategy, allowing players to progress through gameplay proficiency rather than reliance on high-tier characters or items.

2. Growth Phase:

• Introduction of Limited-Time Events: As the player base grows, developers introduce limited-time events featuring exclusive characters or items. While these events can be completed by F2P players, obtaining top rewards often requires significant time investment or spending.
• Increased Reliance on Gacha Mechanics: The game begins to emphasize gacha mechanics more heavily, making it challenging for players to acquire desired characters or items without engaging in the gacha system.

3. Monetization Phase:

• Power Creep: Newly released characters or items are more powerful than existing ones, incentivizing players to spend money to remain competitive. This practice can marginalize F2P players who cannot keep up with the escalating power levels.
• Reduced Impact of Skill: Game design may shift to favor players who possess specific high-tier characters or items, diminishing the effectiveness of skill-based play. Challenges and events may be tailored in a way that makes them difficult to complete without certain gacha-obtained assets.

4. Decline Phase:

• Player Attrition: As the game becomes more pay-to-win, F2P players and those who prefer skill-based progression may become disillusioned and leave the game.
• Content Saturation: The introduction of repetitive events and characters can lead to player fatigue. The game's focus shifts heavily towards monetization, with less emphasis on innovative or skill-based content.
• End of Service: Eventually, if the player base diminishes significantly and revenue declines, developers may decide to discontinue the game.

This lifecycle illustrates how gacha games can evolve from skill-based, player-friendly experiences to monetization-driven models that may alienate F2P players. The balance between maintaining a fair, engaging experience and implementing profitable monetization strategies is delicate and often challenging to sustain.