Katarzyna Petru
In recent years, the video game market has changed significantly. Subscription services offering access to a large library of games for a monthly fee are gaining increasing popularity. One of the most important platforms of this type is Xbox Game Pass from Microsoft. Other services such as PlayStation Plus and EA Play are also developing in a similar direction. With their growth, the question arises whether in the future players will stop buying games outright.
Convenience and access to many games
The biggest advantage of subscriptions is access to a large number of games for one price. Instead of purchasing a single title, the user can pay a monthly subscription fee and gain access to hundreds of productions. For many gamers, this means the ability to try out different games without the risk of spending a large amount on a title they may not like. Because of this, the subscription model works particularly well for those who enjoy frequently trying new productions.
Subscription services can also be attractive for game developers. Productions entering the catalogs of such services can reach millions of users who likely would not purchase them in a traditional way. For many smaller studios, being included in the Game Pass library can mean greater popularity and an additional source of funding.
Will buying games disappear
Despite the growing popularity of subscriptions, many indicators suggest that buying games will not completely disappear. Many of the biggest releases continue to sell very well in the traditional sales model. Players often want to have their favorite titles permanently in their library rather than relying on whether a game will remain in a particular subscription service. The most likely scenario is the coexistence of both models. Subscriptions may be a way to discover new games and play many titles without significant costs. Meanwhile, buying games will remain popular for the biggest releases and titles that players want to own.
Services like Xbox Game Pass are changing the way players engage with video games, but this does not mean the end of traditional game purchasing. Subscriptions offer convenience and access to a large library of titles; however, for many players, owning a physical copy of a game still holds significant value. In the coming years, both models are likely to operate in parallel and evolve together.
source: Own studies
