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OVER the last decade or so, there has been a war between two types of gamers, about digital or physical games.
Digital games allow players to switch between what they are playing seamlessly, and the only storage needed is on the console itself.
On the other hand, fans of physical games believe that they are important for gaming preservation, allowing owners to play their games long after online services go down.
Overall, it seems that digital games are winning, and surveys claim that up to 95% of gaming sales are now digital only.
It seems that companies are starting to notice the shift towards digital media and, in particular, streaming services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus.
Much like with TV and film, more people than ever stream through services like Netflix rather than purchasing movies to keep.
Netflix used to have a monopoly in this area, but new services like Disney+ and Paramount+ are popping up all the time, and gaming is following suit.
Originally Xbox Game Pass was the main streaming service for games, but individual companies like EA and Ubisoft soon created their own subscription models.
In an interview with GameIndustry.biz, Philippe Tremblay, director of subscriptions at Ubisoft, said: “One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games.
“That’s the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection.
“That’s a transformation that’s been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don’t lose your progress.
“If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That’s not been deleted.
“You don’t lose what you’ve built in the game or your engagement with the game.
“So it’s about feeling comfortable with not owning your game.”
It makes sense with the rise of streaming in TV, film and music, but it’s clear that gamers are less comfortable with the idea as games take a lot longer to complete.
If you want to read more about gaming subscriptions, check out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass.
Written by Georgina Young on behalf of GLHF.
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