Gamers Need To Accept Lack of Physical Game Ownership, Says Ubisoft

Expert Verified By

Ubisoft Wants To Push Digital Media & Subscriptions!

Story Highlights
  • Ubisoft Plus is a subscription service that offers AAA titles at release.
  • The head of Ubisoft’s subscriptions believes gamers need to get used to not having ownership of games.
  • Subscriptions are still growing but need this shift for a massive breakthrough.

The gaming industry has been one of the fastest-evolving industries in the last ten years. Through the introduction of subscriptions and the rise of digital media, games collection and ownership are becoming less important by the day.

However, many are still against this transition, raising their voices for physical media and game preservation. In a recent interview, Ubisoft addressed this subject from the perspective of subscriptions, stating that gamers need to grow accustomed to not owning their games.

Why it matters: Subscription services could help counter the increasing costs of purchasing games, with analysts predicting $22 billion in revenue from this part of the industry by 2027.

Ubisoft

Gamesindustry recently spoke to Philippe Tremblay, Ubisoft’s director of subscriptions. Like the competition, Ubisoft offers a subscription called Ubisoft Plus, including all AAA titles as part of the subscription at release, making it similar to Xbox Game Pass.

Addressing the growth of this form of game distribution and the future of the industry, he pointed to consumers being used to full ownership of their games. He said:

“That’s the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their games.”

Philippe Tremblay pointed to the benefits of this transition, stating that a digital ecosystem brings the benefits of cloud saves and streaming services. He also said that gamers should not fear losing their games.

Relying on subscriptions is a bit like rental services of the past. The gaming industry coexisted with physical game renting in the past, so the transition is not as massive as it may seem at first.

However, the Ubisoft executive admitted that there is validity to the perspective of those wary of subscriptions.

Microsoft Xbox

In recent years, services like Xbox Game Pass have shown the true potential of this market. Offering over 50 major AAA titles last year, subscribers reaped numerous benefits from the cost of less than three new AAA titles.

Still, there is no denying that ownership is quite valuable to most consumers. At a moment’s notice, digital games can be pulled from storefronts, and expired licenses can make things even more complicated.

Therefore, with the current popularity of physical games, this shift is still a few years away, at the very least.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Hollow Knight: Silksong Demo At Gamescom Was The Same As E3 2019

It has been revealed that the Hollow Knight: Silksong demo at Gamescom was the same build from E3 2019, featuring only minor tweaks.

No Deadlock Open Beta Is Planned For Now, Valve Confirms In New Statement

Valve has confirmed that Deadlock will remain in a closed alpha state for the time, as the studio has no plans for holding an open beta.

Black Ops 7 Devs Ignore Criticisms About Laziness, Tell Gamers Not To Worry About It

The associate creative director of Black Ops 7 stated that Treyarch will ignore the backlash and stay focused on its own vision.

Bioshock 4 Reportedly Delayed Beyond 2027 Following Leadership Changes and Studio Layoffs

Bioshock 4 has reportedly been delayed beyond the previously scheduled 2027 release after one-third of the studio Cloud Chamber was laid off.

Borderlands 4 Would Be Worth Buying Even If It Cost $350, Says Dev

The Gearbox head has stated that Borderlands 4 is worth 5x more than it actually costs, making it exciting for gamers.