Ubisoft want people to "feel comfortable" not owning games

Pure Xbox wrote:Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft's Philippe Tremblay discussed how the industry is changing with the introduction of more monthly game subscriptions. Tremblay feels that, just like with movies and music, consumers need to "feel comfortable" not actually owning their gaming content.

Ubisoft's Philippe Tremblay, subscription director for Ubisoft+, wrote: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."

Digital game purchases and subscriptions should be fantastic but, imho, in the console field many publishers cannot be trusted to keep access to games available. Only a few weeks ago Ubisoft announced the "sunsetting" (i.e. closure) of their The Crew game, rendering even a single-player option unavailable*.

Naturally consumers will be unable to stop the transfer to digital being the only option for games - well, they could but the mass market won't - and so the platform holders will soon achieve their long dreamed-of fantasy; i.e. their sole, monopolised digital storefronts being the place to buy (license) and rent (subscriptions) games from.

* To be fair, the game's closure applies to disc as well as digital... but that's kinda worse, really.

strawberry float off ubisoft

Maybe Taf can have a word for us

I'm sure this is a massive issue for some people, but I don't really care. Same way I feel about films, sold my DVDs and just watch stuff on streaming services. It's more convenient and there's less clutter.

Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

I want Ubisoft to be comfortable with strawberry floating off.

The guy in charge of subscriptions, after saying subscriptions aren’t performing as well as other revenue streams, is asked what it would take for subscriptions to catch up. Responds that gamers value ownership and unless that changes it’s not going to.

Sites turn the gamer rage crank to juice it for clicks, people fall for it hook, line and sinker.

jiggles wrote:The guy in charge of subscriptions, after saying subscriptions aren’t performing as well as other revenue streams, is asked what it would take for subscriptions to catch up. Responds that gamers value ownership and unless that changes it’s not going to.

Sites turn the gamer rage crank to juice it for clicks.

That is true, jiggles... media wants hits... but isn't there also truth in that Ubisoft is wanting to get to a situation where people don't own* games?

* Yeah, we don't already, because of "license" rather than ownership. But at least we have the media and can use it until it breaks.

jawa_ wrote:

jiggles wrote:The guy in charge of subscriptions, after saying subscriptions aren’t performing as well as other revenue streams, is asked what it would take for subscriptions to catch up. Responds that gamers value ownership and unless that changes it’s not going to.

Sites turn the gamer rage crank to juice it for clicks.

That is true, jiggles... media wants hits... but isn't there also truth in that Ubisoft is wanting to get to a situation where people don't own* games?

* Yeah, we don't already, because of "license" rather than ownership. But at least we have the media and can use it until it breaks.

The guy is talking about getting people onboard with their subscription over buying the product outright. He’s not saying they’re removing anything, he’s just describing what the current situation is and what would have to change for people to favour the subscription.

It’s not “buy a disc and don’t own it” it’s “use the subscription instead”. You know, like Gamepass or PS+. What would it take for the subscription guy to grow subscription numbers? People wanting to use subscriptions over ownership. The blandest, most obvious, inoffensive statement the guy could make.

I think he’s a little disingenuous because people are already A-OK with not owning games, and platforms that allow zero ownership even for purchases are championed by the most rabid gamers around (hello, Steam). His problems are that they just don’t want another sub.

jiggles wrote:

jawa_ wrote:

jiggles wrote:The guy in charge of subscriptions, after saying subscriptions aren’t performing as well as other revenue streams, is asked what it would take for subscriptions to catch up. Responds that gamers value ownership and unless that changes it’s not going to.

Sites turn the gamer rage crank to juice it for clicks.

That is true, jiggles... media wants hits... but isn't there also truth in that Ubisoft is wanting to get to a situation where people don't own* games?

* Yeah, we don't already, because of "license" rather than ownership. But at least we have the media and can use it until it breaks.

The guy is talking about getting people onboard with their subscription over buying the product outright. He’s not saying they’re removing anything, he’s just describing what the current situation is and what would have to change for people to favour the subscription.

It’s not “buy a disc and don’t own it” it’s “use the subscription instead”. You know, like Gamepass or PS+. What would it take for the subscription guy to grow subscription numbers? People wanting to use subscriptions over ownership. The blandest, most obvious, inoffensive statement the guy could make.

Ooooh i'm Jiggles and I can prove anything with the correct information!

jiggles wrote:The guy is talking about getting people onboard with their subscription over buying the product outright. He’s not saying they’re removing anything, he’s just describing what the current situation is and what would have to change for people to favour the subscription.

It’s not “buy a disc and don’t own it” it’s “use the subscription instead”. You know, like Gamepass or PS+. What would it take for the subscription guy to grow subscription numbers? People wanting to use subscriptions over ownership. The blandest, most obvious, inoffensive statement the guy could make.

I can see your thinking and I get it, jiggles.

But - and this is just personal preference - I just don't want to see a situation where consumers don't own games and we're all paying publishers for temporary access. That doesn't feel like it'd be a good situation compared to the previous ownership model. And so when company representatives clearly say that's what they'd like to happen... it doesn't sound great.

Gamepass good, Ubisoft bad

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

same, awful company

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

Shut it down boys

Perfection

Captain Kinopio wrote:

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

Shut it down boys

Perfection

Yeah, well done Aaron. That was really clever, An Aayl1 Original.

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

This.

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

Wrap it up guys, post of the year 2024 competition is over.

kazanova_Frankenstein wrote:

aayl1 wrote:Ubisoft have been making me feel comfortable not owning their games for years!

Wrap it up guys, post of the year 2024 competition is over.

More like the joke stealer of the year 2024 competition is over