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In the past, games have typically been sold as single, independent units. In recent years, however, that’s been changing. Now, many companies offer game subscriptions as an alternative to the traditional business model. The question, though, is whether or not these subscriptions are worth the hype. Here’s some key information on what game subscriptions are, what they offer, and who they bring the most value to.
Key Takeaways:
A game subscription is a service that offers access to a variety of games. Rather than buy games individually, gamers can pay a monthly or yearly subscription fee to access the service’s entire game library. The rise of subscription services has marked a sort of shift in the gaming industry, though the long-term effects remain to be seen.
Game subscriptions offer several distinct benefits to gamers and publishers alike, but they come with a few drawbacks as well. If used properly, they can save you a huge amount of money. However, you don’t truly own any of the games you play through the service, so you’ll lose access to them if you stop paying the subscription fee.
Many gamers have raised concerns about this lack of ownership and what it means for the gaming industry going forward. Owning the things you pay for is important for many gamers, and the idea of simply renting access to a game library doesn’t appeal to them.
For those who don’t have these same reservations, though, game subscriptions are a powerful tool that can help you play more games, try games you wouldn’t have otherwise, and enjoy a better gaming experience as a whole.
With all the pros and cons in mind, are these subscription services any better than the purchases you’re used to? The answer isn’t as simple as yes or no. A lot of factors go into figuring out how much value you’ll get from a game subscription, so be sure to consider everything before deciding whether or not a subscription is worth it. Here are what we believe to be the three most important questions to ask yourself when making this decision.
Do you tend towards free-to-play games or pricey AAA titles? Gamers who prefer the former won’t get much value from a game subscription, but those who prefer the latter can save huge amounts of money.
For example, if you play free-to-play games like Valorant or League of Legends, a game subscription doesn’t offer much. These games can be played for as long as you want at absolutely no cost, after all.
AAA games like Baldur’s Gate III or Alan Wake II, on the other hand, typically offer a one-time paid single-player experience for around $60-$70. While you can replay the games, you’re going to get most of your money’s value on the first playthrough. If you don’t think you’ll play these games more than once, it’s far more cost-effective to pay $15 a month for a standard-tier game subscription, complete the game, and move on to another game.
Do you play games often enough to justify paying a subscription fee? You’ll have to pay the fee whether or not you use the service. If you don’t play games super often, it may be better to make a one-time purchase for a game that you can play for a long period.
Let’s return to the previous example of paying for AAA games through a subscription rather than ownership. If you complete a game with a $60 MSRP in one month, you’ll have saved about $45 with a subscription. If you draw out the game experience over 6 months, though, you’ll have paid $30 more than if you bought the game outright, and still won’t actually own it.
Ultimately, it’s a question of how much time and motivation you have to play video games, so weigh your options and figure out what works best for you.
Not all game subscriptions offer the same library of games. This is especially true of game subscriptions offered by major players in the gaming industry like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. Each of those companies offers the games they produced, while not allowing other subscriptions to offer those games. This is by design, as it creates exclusivity and encourages greater brand loyalty in subscribers.
This creates an important consideration for any would-be subscribers: does the subscription you’re looking at offer the games you want? If you want to play Ghost of Tsushima, for example, you’ll need a PS+ subscription, but that PS+ subscription won’t do you much good if you’re looking for retro Nintendo games like Earthbound.
If your subscription doesn’t have the games you want, then you’ll have to pay for the subscription alongside single purchases of the games you want. This is inefficient and likely not your best option.
What works best for one gamer might not work for another, so this is another case where you shouldn’t be afraid to experiment a bit to see what’s right for you!
If you want to learn more about game subscriptions and what they mean for gamers and the gaming industry, we’ve got you covered! Feel free to contact us today, and we’ll answer any questions you may have.
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