As the gaming industry leans more and more into subscription services, their impact has gotten people talking. Michael Douse, Larian Studios’ publishing director for Baldur’s Gate 3, recently took a firm stance against Ubisoft’s subscription-heavy approach.
His remarks follow Ubisoft’s decision to disband the team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Douse argued that this decision is rooted in a “broken strategy” that prioritizes subscriptions over game sales. Fans have started talking about the impact of subscriptions on game quality, developer careers, and the future of gaming.
It’s All About Ubisoft These Days, And None Of It Is Positive
Ubisoft’s subscription model, which leans heavily on its Ubisoft+ service, aims to reduce the need for outright game purchases, encouraging players to subscribe rather than buy games individually.
Douse believes that if gamers become used to not owning games, developers may face job insecurity when subscription-driven titles fail to succeed financially.
If the statement “gamers should get used to not owning their games” is true because of a specific release strategy (sub above sales), then the statement “developers must get used to not having jobs if they make a critically acclaimed game” (platform strategy above title sales) is…
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) October 23, 2024
Ubisoft’s decision to initially limit The Lost Crown’s release to Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store, instead of launching it on Steam was the first domino.
Steam accounts for an estimated 90% of PC game sales, making it essential for maximizing reach and profit. When The Lost Crown finally arrived on Steam several months post-launch, the hype was already gone.
For premium games Steam on PC is about 90%+ of your total sales on that platform probably slightly lower if you own your own platform. If you remove the Steam platform at peak of relevance you’re removing 90% average of your potential audience. Quite substantial.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) October 23, 2024
The last notable game on their platform was arguably Far Cry 6 in 2021. The Crew, Mirage and Avatar came in 2023 and didn’t perform, so you can assume subscriptions were at a lull when PoP released by 2024. Which means people wouldn’t be launching their store all too much.
If it… https://t.co/uiC167uxGG
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) October 23, 2024
According to Douse, releasing on Steam could have led to greater visibility and potentially warranted a sequel, which might have preserved the talented development team. Make no mistake, The Lost Crown was a good game that both players and critics loved.
The Future Of Gaming With Subscription Services
Despite the arguments against them, some gamers see benefits in subscription services. Xbox Game Pass and EA Play, for example, allow players to try a wider range of games without paying full price for each. These services offer value to those who want to try games before buying them.
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But the main argument is that while subscriptions might attract more players, they do not necessarily guarantee a game’s success. When games are available through a subscription, players are less likely to purchase them outright.
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This can become a problem for developers relying on sales metrics to gauge success and secure funding for future projects. As a result, developers could be forced to create content aligned with corporate interests instead of artistic or innovative pursuits.
So while subscription services provide a convenient and budget-friendly way for gamers to experience multiple titles, they may come at a steep cost for the industry.
The gaming industry’s shift into this model may risk undervaluing creative achievements, leading to more job uncertainty for developers and potentially less creativity.
What do you think? Will we see a shift in the industry due to these services? Let us know in the comments!
