Xbox Game Pass has been the talk of the town for a while now. Offering subscribers a growing selection of games (including indies and triple-A titles) at a relatively low cost, millions of people around the world are currently playing new, exciting titles at a very low cost that a decade ago. With new initiatives rolling out (Xbox Game Pass Core being the latest), Microsoft seems to be doing what it can to make the barrier to entry for playing new games as low as possible.
For consumers, the deal is sweet, but consumers only see one side of the program’s benefits. As highlighted in recent Microsoft FTC court hearings, Sony’s Jim Ryan claims publishers aren’t fans, and there are concerns within the offices of industry giants about the perceived value of big-budget games.
Is this just a statement aimed at blocking a Microsoft/Activision Blizzard takeover? Or are there some truth to these concerns? To find out, I headed to the Brighton Dev Center to talk to developers and publishers, hoping to hear first-hand from those who have seen Game Pass stats and understand the reality and ramifications of Game Pass.
“It’s very difficult right now because what’s happening at the same time is these subscription services are getting bigger and nobody has money,” said Mike Rose, director of No More Robots. “So you can try to blame [Game Pass] To that end, sales of all video games are also down. “
Rose has been responsible for the release of several indie games, and said that following the huge success of Descendants on the service, the goal of No More Heroes is to bring all future releases to Game Pass.
Rose continued: “Game Pass subscribers aren’t fucking many. Most No Use Game Pass. When we look at Descendants, it’s been running on Game Pass for a long time, it’s consistently been one of the top 20 most downloaded games on Game Pass every month, and we’ve sold a lot on Xbox and PlayStation game. We haven’t seen any decline.
However, Ross admits that his situation as an independent publisher is very different from that of some of the larger publishers. “We put six figures into a game. So Game Pass ended up working well for us. If you put $5,000,000 into a game, it’s much more difficult.”
So let’s scale up with developers who have released bigger games in recent years. Join brothers Josh and Mike Grier, the leaders of Emberlab. Back in 2021, the studio released Keena: Bridge of Souls to the PlayStation platform and the Epic Game Store. For Emberlab, PlayStation Plus has had a positive impact on the action-adventure game.
“It’s just a whole new group of people,” Mike Greer lamented. “At the time we definitely had to keep an eye on the crash and make sure it was still doing well [laughter]. But yeah, I think PlayStation Plus just provides new audiences, and we’ve had some success with that. “
His brother Josh was quick to explain the power of PlayStation Plus to bring games back to life after launch. “For us, it’s exciting. You know, it’s been a while since the game, when [PS Plus] Things happen, and seeing someone actually re-energize the crowd — getting new people into the game — that’s what excites us. “
Finally, Mike Greer highlights the case-by-case approach. “I think [the benefit of these services is] Of course, with Game Pass growing significantly, you have to take this into account. So you have to look at what your goals are as a developer. Obviously, sales do matter, but what other opportunities do you have to promote your game? Game Pass and PS Plus are great tools for this. “
Let’s take it a step further, to a major studio about to release its first big project. Enter Arctic 7. You may not have heard of this new company, but the new studio, led by former EA and Sperasoft bigwigs, aims to build multimedia experiences across video games, TV, and other platforms (in a different way than Remedy). Chief Commercial Officer John Burns spearheaded the current market with a consumer-centric view.
“My background is in games as a service at Jagex and others[…].I think what we’re seeing is that you can give players more choice, whether it’s the platform, whether it’s the different types of game types, whether it’s innovation and game models, and how they pay and spend […], which is actually great. “
Burns continued: “Whether you look at: Well, I can walk into a store and buy a physical copy (which is still popular in some parts of the world), or guess what? I can subscribe, I can make microtransactions. I think “the more choices we give players, the better. We’ve seen growth driven by PS Plus and Game Pass. They drive innovation. I think the more the better. “
What do you think about this service? Let us know below, and while you’re reading, why not check out our article: Exoprimal’s dino shooter feels right at home on Xbox Game Pass, but does it have staying power? And our 30 best Game Pass games for July 2023.
Please note: The interviews in this article have been edited for clarity and brevity”
