Philippe Tremblay-Gauthier, director of subscriptions at Ubisoft Entertainment SA (OTC: UBSFF), recently discussed the future trajectory of video game subscriptions, asserting that gamers must become "comfortable" relinquishing ownership of their games for such services to flourish.
In an interview with GI.biz, Tremblay-Gauthier acknowledged the rapid expansion of subscription services but emphasized that it still represented a relatively modest segment of the gaming industry compared to other models.
"I don't have a crystal ball, but when you look at the different subscription services that are out there, we've had a rapid expansion over the last couple of years, but it's still relatively small compared to the other models," Tremblay-Gauthier stated.
He pointed out the need for a consumer shift, drawing parallels with the transformation from physical ownership of CDs and DVDs to embracing digital content.
"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]."
Tremblay-Gauthier emphasized the advantages of subscription models, such as continuity of game progress and accessibility. He noted gamers don't lose their progress, and as they grow comfortable with not physically owning their games, they will recognize the benefits of subscription services.
"Streaming is also a thing that works really well with subscription. So you pay when you need it, as opposed to paying all the time," Tremblay-Gauthier added.
Despite Tremblay-Gauthier's insights, his comments sparked a backlash from gamers who prefer physical ownership. Additionally, concerns were raised about the potential implications for video game preservation as the industry leans more toward digital distribution.