Common sense logic kinda dictates that once people have obtained a product, they're unlikely to go back an pay for the same product even if they liked what they got the first time. The only outlier I have seen, is with small(er) indie games where people are more likely to offer support. Someone pirating a AAA title, liking it and then buying it shortly after at full retail is pretty rare i would say.

[–] veniasilente@lemm.ee 2 points 1 month ago

Now that you mention indie games, I think it's important to distinguish intents and showcase how publishers are shooting themselves in the foot.

Someone who pirated an indie game (why tho?) and liked it, is more likely to pay for it because indie publishers also provide better medium to pay for the actual software, or contribute to the actual developer, with fewer middlemen and rent-seekers. If someone pirated an AAA game and liked it and wanted to buy it, their options are still limited due to one of the main reasons of having pirated the game in the first place. At prices of, like, US$ 60 lol, hey'd have to wait until a Steam supersale or smth...