Gamers want to own the games they play.
Following one The comments of the Ubisoft executive As for players who are used to not owning games, it is obvious that this approach will open the floodgates to piracy.
First, the subscription model that Microsoft openly supports as financially viable, may not apply at all. They’re just trying to find a solution that they think will help them beat the competition instead of putting in the effort to get something right.
However, publishing executives are taking Microsoft’s word that this subscription model works and are trying to get into the same imaginary bandwagon.
The issue here, and what Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke rightly pointed out, is that ultimately game developers who sell directly to players it is the way forward. Most importantly, quality matters and there is no elevator to success.
After all, Larian Studios has been consistently working hard to make better and better games for a long time. Craftsmanship clearly requires effort and time. However, this difficult “tiger soup” approach tends to scare publisher management because you have to catch the tiger first.
Gamers are also not passive norms, they are passionate, tech-savvy people. Current subscription arrangements on many platforms allow players to buy the games they like. If this option is removed, players will simply find other ways to get the games they want. In short, piracy will become the norm.
This reasoning is already hitting the internet hard, with the sentiment “if the purchase is not property, then piracy is not theft“. Gamers, as always, are way ahead of the release management curve.
With all the recent layoffs at gaming companies, publishers are desperately looking for ways to increase revenue. So the idea of a wall subscription model with a limited revenue stream might seem appealing, but it’s a very risky step and players are clearly already ready to react.
Follow me Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. I can do it too Mecha Damashii and do game reviews at hobbylink.tv.
Read my Forbes blog here.
