Games as a service - The Future of Gaming?

SXO: People love physical discs, but those same people are the ones who are currently praising the likes of Xbox Games Pass, EA Access and to a lesser extent PlayStation Now, so maybe it’s a case of being careful what you wish for, because the more people who move the way of Xbox Games Pass and PlayStation Now and away from discs, the faster services such as these will negate the need for them completely. Personally, I’m ok with that, but are you?

[CaptainOmega]

I hope not. It's essentially paying full price for an incomplete game.

[darthv72]

We do that now... at least when it comes to physical games.

[CaptainOmega]

Which games?

[Nyxus]

Not really. Maybe you're playing the wrong games.

[darthv72]

Spyro and BLOPS4 come to mind. Maybe its just an Activision thing then. Releasing physical discs that do not contain the same build or full game as what digital buyers get. You then have to dl the rest to make it complete(ish).

[CaptainOmega]

i’m talking about games like Sea of Thieves, Fortnite, Destiny, PUBG

[darthv72]

Technically those are supposed to be incomplete games. There is no end to them unless the player decides to stop playing. A complete game should have a beginning a middle and an end. Games that are constantly evolving based on interaction from the community are not meant to be viewed the same as stand alone games.

Now when i said incomplete i really meant what i said. Games released on disc that are incomplete in comparison to their digital equivalent. Like the examples of Spyro (where parts 2 and 3 arent even on the disc) and BLOPS4 (where 90% of the rest of the game isnt even on the disc).

you didnt say what you meant but i sure did.

[CaptainOmega]

I’m talking about games that are incomplete in the sense that they have no beginning middle or end., or severely lacking content when they launch (and you pay full price for em). I meant what I said, too.

I’m not talking about ‘incomplete’ physical games that you need to download the rest at home.. (that type of rational for that term is weird considering that’s pretty new).

[Nitrowolf2]

Spyro is complete though lol the problem is ur just not getting the full package in disc

[darthv72]

Well then, that is a matter of context. Games that are multiplayer focused (like PUBG, SoT, Fortnite) are (again) not to be seen in the same sense as games that should be complete (SP games).

I paid full price for SFV and that was not a complete game. I appreciate what Capcom has done to add more content to it and it's certainly a more fleshed out game than initially released or how about GTS... another game that had to be addressed after the fact because it was not complete when it released. No mans sky is a good example of someone buying it now is getting a more content rich experience than it initially released. All of these games are incomplete and are also examples of GaaS that has already been out.

You want to single out multiplayer games as a sign of bad GaaS when they are supposed to be that way because they are episodic. If it makes you feel better then just wait for them to make definitive editions before you buy them. By then they will have taken all the content up to that point and compile it into one nice, more complete, package.

@nitro, it is complete for the digital version but not for physical. And like beardy said below... he isnt into digital games. So that is one that no matter how you spin it will never be a complete physical product.

[blacktiger]

battlefield 5 and sea of theives and many more games i guess

[StormSnooper]

I really hope GAAS doesn’t replace what we have now. I wanna play good games.

[spicelicka]

That makes no sense, anyone with internet can update the game for free, that's not an incomplete game.

I would argue the inverse is true for digital games. Many publishers remove the initial release versions from digital stores and force you buy "complete editions" years after release, using it as an excuse to charge full price.

Activision is the biggest culprit of that. Try searching for Advanced warfare in the digital store, you'll only find the newest edition at the price of a full game 4 years later.

[Muzikguy]

Your definition of GaaS isn’t what GaaS is. Supporting a game that was released over time to make it more fleshed out is not the same as paying monthly fees to access your game and when you stop paying you have no games to play

One is support. The other is GaaS

[darthv72]

@spice, those are the physical ones I tend to buy. when they have re-released a more complete version. Killer instinct definitive edition is a good example. I could have gotten the combo breaker edition but instead i waited and picked up the definitive one as it comes with all the extra content (on disc) and a soundtrack cd.

That is an example of a good physical re-release. I will give you an example of a bad one... Street Fighter V Arcade Edition. Capcom went to the trouble of pressing new artwork on the disc as well as the case but the disc content is the exact same as the initial release. You would think they could have at least taken all of the previously released content and pressed it to a new disc but nope.

And I agree that it seems to be Activision that is two for two right now. hopefully they dont do it for CTR remaster. Only put a few tracks on disc and make you have to dl the split screen and other characters. That is a bad trend that is forming.

@muzik... i think most people get confused as to what they think GaaS encompasses. PS+ is GaaS because if you choose to no longer be a member then all those free games become invalid. Same with Gold for xbo (although the free games on 360 you can still play... weird). The other day someone said GaaS also involved having to grind for in game currency in order to buy things. Hell that reminds me of the days when i would play phantasy star. You had to build up experience in order to get better skills and weapons from the shops. Or even the arcade games like forgotten worlds. Shooting enemies to collect zenny in order to buy extended life, armor and better weapons from the shop keeper.

so it seems people have been playing GaaS games for decades and didnt even know it.

[ILostMyMind]

Choose better what you are buying.

[rainslacker]

GaaS is a wide encompassing term. But in general, it's any game which requires an ongoing service, paid or otherwise, to continue playing content. Some times new content is added, but it's not necessary. MT can also be considered Gaas, but that's usually not how the term is used.

Ps+ or GWG are not GaaS, they are services which provide games that are available in other ways. Game pass can be considered a GaaS, but it's practical application on if that is always relevant is up for debate.

GaaS is just a fancied up way to describe a game that has additional content offered through various distribution paradigms we've had for years now. It just sounds better for marketing than MT filled games which don't offer much up front. Not all.games are like that, but people associate the paradigm with practices which aren't all that appreciated.

[gangsta_red]

Not what the article is referring to.

[CaptainOmega]

With this definition of Gaasas as the future, will there be any physical games?

I don't find streaming/subscription services appealing because I like to own my video games. Even if there's an option to purchase a game at a lower price through the service, I am not on board with buying all my games digitally.

[Rhythmattic]

BeardedDrachen
Ive got to say, the only time I Buy my games digitally is VR games...
Makes It much easier to switch between them...

[NeoGamer232]

I am not sure how you have come to this conclusion.

I don't know of any of the Preview program games on EA Access or Game Pass.

Games on game pass are all full shipping games. And no game has shipped on EA Access or Game Pass in any worse shape than many full games.

It is sad when studios/publishers decide to ship games that are incomplete. But, Game Pass and EA Access are not the cause nor the issue with that.

[Obscure_Observer]

There´s lots of fanboys on N4G that trashed Game Pass when the service was first announced and now... the hypocrites are nothing but a bunch of happy customers/subscribers. Lol

[Nyxus]

I don't have Game Pass and have zero interest in it.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Nyxus

Maybe because you´re a single console owner. ;)

[Nyxus]

@ Obscure: Switch, PS4, Xbox One, 3DS, PS Vita. So yes, I've owned an Xbox One since launch and I have zero interest in GamePass.

[gangsta_red]

I used to feel the same way a while ago about digital. But honestly, all my physical games do at this point is collect dust on some rack, taking up space.

I have not had one issue with digital or any problems of ownership since moving to that preferred medium. Actually purchasing that game on the same day from the comfort of my couch is a luxury I would never trade.

The only games I do get that are physical are games from Gamefly. And even those are delivered to my door.

[CaptainOmega]

I feel going to the store, getting a new game that is wrapped up, taking it out and putting it in the console is a much better experience and more rewarding than sitting on my couch and buying the game online and waiting for it to download.

[darthv72]

I hear you beardy... but when you have to go to the store, unwrap that game, pop it in and still have to sit there and wait for it to install (and update) then its pretty much the same amount of time.

[CaptainOmega]

“Pretty much the same amount of time”....

I’m not talking about time. I’m talking about the experience.

[Nyxus]

@ darth: you don't even have to go to the store, you can have it delivered to your house. Installing takes a few minutes.

[andibandit]

@BeardedDrachen

Kinda sucks when the stores are closed and your friends are having fun in that new kickass multiplayer game.

Also I have 2 PS4's. Buying 2 physical discs to have the "go to store + go home + Unwrapping x 2" experience dosn't beat being able to buy just 1 copy.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@ Beard Destiny 1, 2, Most Sports games, Battlefield 5, COD 4, Sea Of Thieves, Fall Out 76, SFV All in complete and lack content at launch.

[Muzikguy]

These articles keep coming out like people changed their minds. Or thinking if they say it enough it’ll come true. GaaS is a bad idea and I hope I never see it, although there are pieces of it now.

[darthv72]

It is a bad idea in certain games but not a bad idea overall. It is more of an option for those who simply just want to play without the overhead of having to deal with buying. It's not for everyone.

[rainslacker]

It's the same approach as all the "digital is the future" talk from last gen, which still persists to this day.

Digital on console is still not the majority way games are sold.

I doubt GaaS will become the majority anytime soon either.

Personally, I don't know why so many people feel it has to only be one majority future. Seems like everything can coexist just fine.

[Hardiman]

@Bearded I'm replying to you here in regards to your comments on the buying experience. I'm with you 100% on the experience of buying the game, especially if it's one I've been eagerly been anticipating! I've done that for years and at this point it's kinda s ritual for me. That and I just prefer physical and I like to by used in some cases.

I just don't see games like GOW, Spider-Man, Detroit, Uncharted, TLOU2 etc coming from an all digital service, as they are in their current forms. They are complete stand alone experiences. No it seems Sea of Thieves, Fortnite and games of that nature that can be milked are the ones that would spring up if gaming was a just monthly service.

[gangsta_red]

Well then how do you explain many and mostly games currently on these services that aren't Sea of Thieves,, Fortnite and games of that nature?

I don't understand why a subscription service has to only benefit those types of games and not SP type games only.

Netflix has built an empire with a similar subscription service and that just comes from watching movies that could also be considered a standalone experience.

Don't get me wrong of course, a game like PUBG, Fortnite could also benefit greatly but so could a SP games which is obvious with them being apart of PSnow and Game Pass as well as EA Access.

[Hardiman]

Gangsta, I get the Netflix comparisons, I do but even with Netflix they don't stream every brand new block buster movie. You can rent it but if your already paying the monthly fee kinda defeats the purpose. No they have to negotiate for licenses and movies like The Dark Knight aren't there. Studios are gonna get their money and game publishers are the same way. I don't see these mega powerful corporations and they're be the ones pushing this, pouring millions of dollars into games like GOW, TLOU etc and releasing them day one for $10 a month. No I see more games like Fortnite, Over Watch, Sea of Thieves etc because they are cheaper to make and you can milk the shit out of them! Also what happens when all publishers charge monthly fees? Man that would add up fast!

Also like many have said they enjoy the experience of buying the game, owning it physically. I do buy digital, just tonight I bought The Forest off PSN. All the indies I have are digital but most AAA games especially the critically acclaimed exclusives are physical. I also like to trade and buy used. I trade a good deal of third party titles and buy used for a deal or if I don't want to give the publishers money. Like with Shadow of War. After they stuck the market in I don't support those practices so I got it used. They've since taken it out so that should tell you something.

Also and this is the main problem, not everyone, most don't have access to high speed internet and until that's fixed it's gonna be an issue.

I believe the market is big enough for both and there will always be those who produce games like Death Stranding, GOW, Wild Hunt etc and those who produce Fortnite, Sea of Thieves, PUBG. I also don't see physical media dying out. Too many people buy them.

As far as gaming goes I'd look at the evidence and who's at the top. Whatever they are doing must be working!

[UnHoly_One]

The article is talking about something completely different.

I'm not sure why they used "games as a service" when they are talking about game subscription services like game pass. A "netflix for games", so to speak.

You would think somebody that writes about games would know the definition of basic gaming terminology instead of using a headline that has no bearing at all on the article they are writing.

[nommers]

Depends on what you mean by complete too. Some games had reduce budgets or content changed/cut for financial reasons but still have an obvious beginning, middle, and end. Truth be told you could always add more to a game. Parts are always cut or tweaked just like in movies, but the company will be damned if the fans ever know about it.

[Cobra951]

Which games? Nearly all of them. They get released needing hefty Day-One patches. They have important content released as DLC.

[Godmars290]

You're not even buying, just renting. You're paying to access a library of titles the subscribed service has complete control over. They can pull as soon as add titles, require addition fees and terms, or even bar you from access to games you "bought" for whatever reason they want. Turn off the servers, close shop, and walk away while "accidentally" still taking money from your card.

[Nyxus]

Hopefully not.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Nyxus

"Hopefully not."until you get day one fully downloadable Playstation (uncluding BC) games on PS Now. ;)

[Nyxus]

I still wouldn't subscribe to that. I only buy physical.

[trooper_]

I like how you think that if Sony does it,people would support it.

Um...no.

I wouldn't support it and neither would people with common sense.

Trying to start a flame war for no reason.

[lxeasy]

@obscure exactly lol

[Rude-ro]

Why are players jumping up and down over a subscription on top of a subscription with micro transactions and dlc?
The only thing, with the amount of goal posts moving with specific people in here... some are definitely paid shills.

[ILostMyMind]

This will never happen because Sony games are not made with that market in mind. But if one day this happens, all of Sony's games would be rubbish infinite multiplayer tedious games, just like those of Microsoft are now. We do not want this.

[UCForce]

People still want to buy physical game. It’s seem like you need to reconsider this. You know what happen when digital become future of gaming ? People would lose their retail job, publishers abuse this and the consumers will lose their ownership.

[gangsta_red]

So far Game Pass and PSNow have been a heaven sent. I'm playing more games that I would have never played before.

That on top of Gamefly and I have my gaming needs pretty much taken care of.

Last game I actually bought was Divinity 2, since then I've played Hitman, Shantae, Spider-Man, etc, etc, all through rental means.

[Goldby]

Spiderman isn't on PS now the last I checked, or did you ry it thru redbox?

[gangsta_red]

I've only used Red Box once. But that is another option out there.

I got Spider-Man through Gamefly

[rob-GP]

"That on top of Gamefly" - Gamefly do a rental service in America. I use Boomerang in the UK

[gangsta_red]

@rob-GP

With so many games and at those prices, I seriously couldn't imagine trying to game today without these services.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

Sounds like your not beating games

[gangsta_red]

I beat the ones I enjoy. I send the ones that were mediocre or horrible back.

Another benefit, I would hate to have paid for a lot of the games I played this gen.

[jwillj2k4]

I see all games eventually going to psnow /game pass especially once 5g rolls out. Consoles will no longer need to be power houses, just dumb terminals. Could come in all different shapes and sizes. It makes the most financial sense.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Nope or PS2 for me

[wotta]

Sorry if the article is slow to load. The host is looking into it, they've had some issues today. It will load tho, just taking about 40 seconds for me. Hopefully it'll be fine by the time you read this :D

[CloudStrife900]

Nice piece! (Loaded fine here)

[wotta]

Thanks :)

[CloudStrife900]

Anytime! Keep up the great work!

Now, bring on those downvotes people. Feed meeeee!

[rob-GP]

"and to a lesser extent PlayStation Now... Someone isn't aware that PSNow currently has 53% of the rental service market. EA access and Gamepass were 15% each and the two PC versions of EA Access made up the rest.

IT's just that those using PSNow are as vocal about it as the MS side are. Either way, They are all great services and I don't see any issues with them. I prefer digital over physical so I'm not too bothered about a future like this, but I can't see Sony giving up on physicals

[DerekTweed]

PSNow is double the price of Gamepass and is on more devices (2-3x PS4's)

EA Access is only on Xbox One.

[rob-GP]

Well, EA Access is on Xbox and it has a normal and premium version on PC. The PC versions were 7-8% for each and the Xbox version was 15% - that's still only 29-30% of the market share. According to recent 'stats' which were floating around the internet, Xbox EA access, PC standard and premium EA Access, AND Gamepass = 47% market share. PSNow is 53% market share. That's not just monetary value, that's based on the number of users as well, so the fact it's a higher price makes it a little more impressive.

Don't forget, PSNow has over 270 downloadable PS4 and PS2 titles now and over 700 games in total to stream. Gamepass has a rotation of around 110 titles and they keep swapping games, I've never seen a game leave PSNow. They just added 50 PS4 games as well.

[DerekTweed]

The stats I saw was based on revenue and considering that EA access is like $20 a year or something is quite impressive.

EDIT: I'm pretty sure Gamepass has over 200 games right now. Not that that even compares to PSNow.

I'm not bashing PSNow or anything just pointing out how the statistics show that all are actually doing very well, PSNow included.

However 50%+ of market share is not from number of subscribers but from Revenue

[bluefox755]

Not part of my future. It's depressing that the xbox diehards cheer this on.

[SquillieDeeWilliams]

I would love to know how it's depressing getting so much value for your money, please explain. Not to mention you can literally get gamepass for free by using Bing, I just dont get why people are against gamepass. Do you still buy dvd's instead of using netflix, do you still buy cd's instead of using spotify/apple/amazon music?? It just makes no sense to me that people think spending $60-$120 for hundreds of games (new games included) a year is a bad thing, its baffling to me...

[CaptainOmega]

You're only paying to play the games, you don't own them. And if you want to own one, you're just paying more money to own it.

All digital on consoles takes out the entire game buying experience. You don't actually own the game. You can't sell the game. It hurts used game stores. You're only impressed by the illusion of value that gamepass offers.

Games as a medium to many people are different than music or movies. The two don't necessarily correlate that if you watch Netflix instead of owning movies that you should be ok with using Gamepass if you play games.

[darthv72]

Beardy, the two correlate just fine. Just as there are collectors of games, there are collectors of movies and music. That isnt to say that these services are directed at them. It is directed at those who are more interested in just playing... not specifically owning what they play.

It's not for you, i get that but you have to at least understand that there are others who have differing views and actually like this sort of thing. I, myself, can embrace the benefits of these services while also still being a collector of certain games i will go to the store to get. Everyone has their own vices.

See, you think I'm arguing with you but we are on the same side. We all are on the same side when it comes to being in this hobby for the same reason. We like to play video games but we can also be respectful of the different ways we go about getting that gaming experience. There is no right or wrong way if you think about it. To that person, there is only their way and their way can be different from your way but at the end of the day both are enjoying the experience they bought into.

[Traecy]

There are folks that like to own physical copies of movies,music,books & videogames.Personally I don't mind streaming music & movies for convience but I love owning physical copies of my favorite music & movies may they be Blu-ray,DVD,CD or vinyl so I can share among friends or bring to someone's house.Games I definitely buy physically because when I'm done with it I'll trade unless it's a game I want to keep, I'm not into streaming games.

[SquillieDeeWilliams]

@BeardedDrachen I am not impressed by any illusion, I am impressed that I have hundreds of games to play on demand, i have no need to own them once iI have finished them. I personally do not buy physical games any more, I have not since the start of this generation, I personally do not see any reason for me to buy physical games any more. You still have to install all of your games anyway, so what is the point of buying physically (unless you are collecting vintage games)? I can pre load my digital games and play them at midnight while everyone buying physical is standing in a line in the cold waiting to get a copy.
My close friend and I have been game sharing this whole generation, if there is a game that I want to buy we split it 50/50 and we both get to play the game, at the same time, which is something you cannot do with physical games. I only buy games that I know I will sink hundreds of hours into such as RDR2, Witcher 3, Fallout, NBA2k etc, so I dont need to re sell to them to a second hand store (which would probably rip me off so they can make a profit anyway). I use Gamefly for brand new games that I want to try, but I'm not sure about purchasing. For the cost of 1 game I can get 4 months of Gamefly for my new games. I am already subscribed to Gamepass through 2020 and got 90% of it for free from Bing rewards. There is no illusion here, it is an incredible value even if I did pay full price for it.
Just this month there have be close to 10 good games added, half of which are brand new games. If this doesnt make sense to you then we will just have to agree to disagree.. Keep in mind, I am 37 years old and grew up playing my games on cartridges and disc, digital gaming and services are a no brainer IMO.

[ElementX]

You could pay $60 to own a game, maybe only play it once or twice, or get a subscription service for a few months and play that game plus numerous others. Subscription services are a great way to play a lot of games. People always talk about being able to sell games but in reality, you better sell it fast if you want top dollar, otherwise getting $10 for a game a year down the road isn't worth it. I don't subscribe to any services but I can see the appeal for a lot of people.

As for digital, I buy them and usually don't get physical unless it's a gift from somebody. I don't care about selling back and not really "owning" the game. I don't buy CDs or movies, I can watch or listen to whatever I want through various services. Some people are just afraid of change. I knew people who had entire bookshelves full of VHS movies, it's just stupid, because all of them are obsolete and there are better ways to enjoy the movies now.

[ILostMyMind]

Your analogy does not make sense. Movies and music have not changed to fit in this new market, Xbox games have changed.

[SquillieDeeWilliams]

@ElementX Well said...

[rainslacker]

I'm not really depressed over it myself. And I do recognize the current value. But for the paradigm that game pass takes, I really just don't trust the industry enough in general to think it's always going to be sunshine and roses. This goes beyond ms, so I'm trying hard to not make it solely about them, but the industry has a bad habit of dangling that carrot of desirable things before screwing over the consumer. In this case, id worry about the scope and production value of the games over the long term.

We already see investors chasing after the MP market because of lower costs, with higher returns, so I can imagine that episodic gaming which is best suited to recurring subs, or paid online mp, being more popular among them in the future.

On top of that, it's a pain in the ads just console warring it up over three consoles, and sometimes pc. I can easily see it becoming about which service is better. Otoh, one wouldn't be forced to choose and could use all the services, so maybe people would talk about games instead of the console it plays on. Silver lining I guess...But my pragmatic side tells me it won't be that simple.

I think the only reason these services get so much attention now in the press and community, isn't so much their value....as we dont bring up EA Access that often anymore, but rather because they're attached to the certain platforms.

[Razzer]

It isn't the only future. Games are still available to be bought individually and I don't expect that to change any time soon. Currently I am subscribed to Game Pass, Origins Premier, and Humble Bundle. Those are great values. But I still buy games outside of services.

[StrengthInNumbers]

Exactly. It's just another option you don't have to use. Traditional methods are still there.

[rainslacker]

Yep. Remember when MP was the future. Remember when digital was the future?

From what I can tell, the phrase is being used wrong across the board, because it assumes that there can be only one. As far as I can tell, it's just another option for the future, and if it was looked at in that way, the discussion about it would probably be more positive. But as it is, it's used as a way to poke and prod at others, or in some cases pushed by the industry because they'd like it to be the only future.

[Cobra951]

My main point of contention now is the confusion between services and getting games digitally. Sure, a service is needed to purchase games online, and download them; but that doesn't make them GaaS. The author of this piece seems to fall into the same trap himself. So the conversation becomes discs vs GaaS. (*Sigh*) If they're going to oppose something, at least they should understand what they're opposing.

[Bleucrunch]

I really hope the choice between physical and digital remain, games as a service will kill gaming folks....choice needs to remain and one should have the option to pick digital over physical.

[Cobra951]

There are 3 separate concepts in play here:
(1) Discs, physical game distribution
(2) Digital, online game distribution through downloads
(3) Gaming as a service, where uninterrupted participation in an online service is required to play, and where the service owner calls all the shots--including the rules, game availability, and even what the games themselves look and play like on any given day.

Digital download is not the same as GaaS, not by a long shot. It is only a different way to distribute games, using the same means you need to fix and update games--even disc ones.

[Bleucrunch]

I COMPLETELY agree with you. I do not have a problem with digital or physical, GaaS is a baaaaaaad idea.

[akaFullMetal]

Physical for me but I do buy digital games when their less than 10 bucks. But I do see the convenience of digital , it's just physical has more options, like borrowing or reselling.

[SquillieDeeWilliams]

You can share digital games too.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

Very limited in comparison to physical.

[Platformgamer]

the future of xbox

[gamer7804]

People seem to be so hung up on this , it's a great addition to buying much like Netflix is a good addition to buying movies, it's not a one or the other type thing. One benefit it has is for mp and coop games easier to get friends that can play with if they r subcribers.

[Razzer]

I think most equate GaaS as multiplayer games, not services. The phrase "games as a service" isn't something that most can get their heads around. PR has not done very well in this area, imo.

[Cobra951]

Yeah, confusion is rampant here. Digital purchases are not necessarily GaaS; but apparently, many of us think they are.

[opc]

ehh people will see the success of games like God of War, Red Dead, SPiderman, AssCreed.... and they will always want to cash in

[CrimsonWing69]

I hope not...

[supes_24]

Lol, love how the writer states “people are praising the likes of” blah blah. He/she obviously said what they want without a poll or evidence to back it up. Saying bs to backup the argument without facts. BS article

[wotta]

Only going by people I have spoken too about it over the past few months and general talk on social media, forums and websites.

[gangsta_red]

Are there any polls that you can provide that say otherwise?

The reception so far for these services been pretty well received.

[Anon1974]

Yep. I've been saying this for years. It's the direction that makes sense. Take away the costs of physical packaging, get your product directly to players when they want it. Make it downloadable as well to combat lag problem. Brings in more steady revenue for publishers and developers, a streaming box doesn't need to be a huge, powerful and expensive piece of hardware, helps combat piracy. This is without a doubt the future of gaming.

[Poopmist]

I love game pass. I would've never played Ruiner otherwise and it's great

[gangsta_red]

Exactly, played Ruiner and had a blast. The mood and atmosphere of that game was like Blade Runner meets Hotline Miami

[Gazondaily]

Ooh gotta try it

[Shikoku]

No thanks

[_LarZen_]

That same question was asked about movies/series not many years ago. The rest is history....

[SquillieDeeWilliams]

This...

[Hardiman]

Not any future I want a part of!

[S2Killinit]

Please dont do this Microsoft

[gangsta_red]

You should also beg Sony and Nintendo and any other big publisher who will offer this sort of service

[S2Killinit]

Seems to me they are the main culprit. But whatever makes you happy i will do that.

[ILostMyMind]

Not for me. Every time they press me with this thing I'm going to escape to another platform.

[blacktiger]

yeah but are these games premium?

[FallenAngel1984]

“People love physical discs, but those same people are the ones who are currently praising the likes of Xbox Games Pass, EA Access and to a lesser extent PlayStation Now”

To a lesser extent? You know that PS Now is a far more successful service than all the other game subscription services combined right?

“the more people who move the way of Xbox Games Pass and PlayStation Now and away from discs, the faster services such as these will negate the need for them completely”

You really think physical gaming will ever die out? People want to own their games not continually rent them? Plus it’s a guarantee they can always play them physically as opposed to a game being potentially taken off the service.

[rainslacker]

People often treat Sony like the red headed stepchild of the gaming industry. It's probably because they aren't constantly talking about their plans, or how well something may be doing. I can't remember the last time Sony mentioned anything about psnow, although they're marketing it more in the ps store and the console itself.

Since they added the downloadable games, it's not a bad value at all if you can pay for a full year. It wasn't even bad as a streaming service.

[rob-GP]

I’ve noticed hardly anyone even reported on the fact Sony added 50 PS4 games Tom he played PSNow line up this week. That’s now over 270 downloadable PS4 games and over 700 games you can stream. That’s not bad for a rental service

[DerekTweed]

In the UK you can't pay for a full year at a time. At least not the last time I checked. I think the same for Gamepass.

[DaDrunkenJester]

"People love physical discs, but those same people are the ones who are currently praising the likes of Xbox Games Pass, EA Access and to a lesser extent PlayStation Now, so maybe it’s a case of being careful what you wish for, because the more people who move the way of Xbox Games Pass and PlayStation Now and away from discs, the faster services such as these will negate the need for them completely."

Geez this is a long sentence haha

[Skankinruby]

This will definitely happen, but no way in hell will it take over the market

[AK91]

Nope

[winter_hill]

If this is the future of gaming, I'll be a retro gamer in the future.

[Thundercat77]

I am glad is not the future on Playstation. Xbox can go wherever they want to. If you knew Xbox from last Gen you will notice they are doing now some stuff they were against last gen because they were wining.

Now that they are loosing, they must do stuff to survive... Even those they were totally against to last gen like cross play.

[Realms]

If it does I will stop gaming on current generation consoles, probably switch to PC but we will see.

[Knightofelemia]

Let's see a yearly fee to play online or monthly for those who decide to pay by the month a yearly fee on a service like XBox Pass or again for those who choose to pay monthly. On top of that some people need good internet to play some of these games from the service. The fact the service can lose the license agreement with a studio and that game gets yanked off the service. The fact I don't own said game turns me off right there services may seem cheap right now but can go up in price anytime like say Netflix. The fact I can't trade in the game is another turn off for me in case that game is an over hyped brown log and use it towards another game. The fact if your account is hacked or gets banned then you gotta phone Sony or Microsoft to correct the issues and sometimes that doesn't always work. Now you gotta repay to play online again and pay for the service again in case Sony or Microsoft can't fix the issue. If games go with no physical copies which I like to collect I just stick with the older consoles like a NES or an SMS and I won't buy that discless console.

[nucky64]

i don't know anyone who wants a "games as a service" model. that said, while i love gaming, i'd still stop if that model became the only way to play.

[Tross]

I genuinely believe GaaS is the future of Xbox gaming. All the more reason to get a PS5 next gen.

[bigmalky]

Nope. Too many variables to bring GaaS to it's knees. As soon as the internet goes down, or the subscription service fails, that's these companies dealing with an angry mob... And free micro currency won't save them.

[william_cade]

ha! Anyone that thinks this is a good idea is a sucker. I have yet to see a good live service game. The graphics are always crap (for the most part). The games are juiced to the gills with MTs. People lose progression due to server crashes. The server needs maintenance, the full price game becomes worthless. If the internet goes down or you are moving and waiting for the net to be installed your expensive game machine and all of its games become worthless.

[Melankolis]

I always think that sentence like "i PLAYED that game" is different than "i watched that movie". But with Gamepass or anything such, it becomes more and more similar. The word "PLAY" will be less romantic and the word "Gamer(s)" will sound more casual than ever.

GaaS is shifting the mentality of gamers.

Rent it. Play it. Forget it.

Of course we can always buy, but renting option makes it less makes sense for some people.

It is OK to embrace the new approach in gaming distribution and it seems inevitable. But the mentality will never be the same.

[wwinterj]

When digital becomes the only option my wallet goes shut.

[milohighclub]

I've been holding off getting an Xbox this gen until I feel there are enough decent games to justify the purchase.
Saw an offer for a year of game pass for £50. the price of one game for a years worth of games is pretty tempting.

[Orionsangel]

I don't know what's happening with gaming. It's been a wild trip. I mean not in my wildest dreams in 1979 while playing my Atari could I imagine the world of gaming we see today.

[sampsonon]

there is no way to sustain a service making AAA single player games (God of War, Spider-Man) where someone can finish the game for $10 and then not pay for the service until another AAA game comes out.

MS plans is to only make AA games for the service, aka Sea of Thieves type games, and MP games where they can Micro Transaction your A$$.

Sony understands what makes them the leader and that is AAA single player epic games.

so no, it's not the future. It will only work for older games and AA games. not new releases, unless the company wants to lose a ton of $

people argue saying Netflix does it. name one AAA movie that released on Netflix at the same time it released in the theater? didn't think so

[EasilyTheBest]

Annihilation was a movie that Netflix bought outright just before it was due at cinemas, there are others too..
I don't think you understand how business really works, I haven't watched a movie on Netflix in 2 months but I still pay for it..

[sampsonon]

you mean this?

"‘Annihilation’ on Netflix: Moviegoers Need to Take Responsibility For Paramount’s Controversial Deal"
https://www.indiewire.com/2...

you just made my point for me, thanks

and yes i do understand how it works. if t was a smart decision all studios would be doing it wouldn't they?
they only did this because they knew the movie wouldn't do well in theaters.

so as i was saying, say goodbye to AAA games if games as a service becomes the norm because who would put AAA budget game on a $10 per month service? unless it's crap or like in the case of Annihilation, to "intellectual" for main stream.

[EasilyTheBest]

I don't understand how I proved your point for you, another big budget movie straight to Netflix was Bright with Will Smith.. These movies cost millions to make or buy the rights to but somehow Netflix can afford it even tho anyone could pay £6.99 for 1 month and watch 2 blockbuster films that month and then cancel..
Basically if streaming games and Game pass takes off the way Netflix has there will eventually be much less ppl buying their games from a store. If you eventually have 70 million ppl paying £10 a month for game pass Microsoft can buy AAA games from studios and they'll be happy to take Microsofts money...

[Cobra951]

". . . the more people who move the way of Xbox Games Pass and PlayStation Now and away from discs . . ."

I'm here only because somehow this "story" rose to the top in the front page. I wanted to understand why. I guess it must be the discussion above, because the piece itself is nothing we haven't read before, often in better form.

Let's take a look at my quoted snippet. It's a false dichotomy. Discs are not the opposite of GaaS. You can buy games that require online connections and subscriptions on disc. You play those as a service. (They don't work without the constant service.) You can buy games intended for solo offline play on an online marketplace. These are not GaaS. Then there are streaming services, such as PS Now; and these are always gaming as a service, because you don't possess the games you're playing there at all. (Think Netflix.)

The author is confused right from the start, as a lot of people seem to be. Game download =/= GaaS. Game download =/= Game streaming. Nowadays, even when games get bought on disc, an online connection is required for updates which often begin on Day One. That doesn't in any way make the games themselves a service, anymore than needing to fuel your car at a station makes your car a service.

[drizzom]

The trainwreak in slow motion that was FFXV should tell you its not a good idea.

[brianunfried]

Gaming as a service, loot boxes, online only, digtal only, etc. is causing me to lose interest in gaming. This generation will probably be my last.

[FanboysKiller]

If it causes death to genres I grew up with then hell no, otherwise it's just another way to access an endless number of contents.

[kevnb]

It will be an option.

[MONOLITHICIDE]

I wont be playing. This will evetually cause a crash.

[unjust75]

Why do people keep thinking games are going the streaming route? Are you all that dumb?

[ziggurcat]

It's fine if these kinds of subscription based things remain an option. I would not want it to be the only one, though.

[jeremyj2913]

For EA and MS.