4 ms·

I think that Microsoft's Game Pass has really changed the gaming ecosystem. If you're not familiar it's basically "Netflix of Videogames" where for a low month

I think that Microsoft's Game Pass has really changed the gaming ecosystem. If you're not familiar it's basically "Netflix of Videogames" where for a low monthly price (compared to buying a game at full retail) you get access to whole downloadable/streamable library of games. It's such an outsized value that it's a big reason to choose an Xbox console over a PlayStation and it's pretty clearly the driving force behind these acquisitions. More games in the library -> More Game Pass subscribers -> More Profit.

minerva23 5y ago
Can you imagine if they make it so Game Pass covers your WoW subscription? WoW could see a comeback.
trymas 5y ago
I guess it's just business at the end of the day, but IMHO this model in the end could not be the best for consumer after all. For example tv streaming, where if your favorite movies/tv series maybe spread over dozen services and you need to pay subscription to all of them. Or it could happen that copyrights get bought by different providers and thus migrate from service to service. I will not be surprised if piracy will have a comeback for movies or tv-series. So with gaming it will either be the same (too many providers to choose from), or reverse - if you'd like to play AAA title, you will be locked in with Microsoft.
- milkytron 5y ago
  I don't think we'll see a bunch of equivalent game passes like we see in video streaming, mostly because Microsoft can act as a de facto gatekeeper for what "passes" can be used, and they'd realistically limit it to only theirs, at least on Xbox. On PC something similar may arise, but there would be much more competition and PC gamers may be more reluctant to use these services because there are more options when choosing where and how to buy/download/play games on PC.
- baud147258 5y ago
  > I will not be surprised if piracy will have a comeback for movies or tv-series. I'm pretty sure piracy numbers for movies and series went up with the number of streaming services

minerva23 5y ago

Can you imagine if they make it so Game Pass covers your WoW subscription? WoW could see a comeback.

trymas 5y ago

I guess it's just business at the end of the day, but IMHO this model in the end could not be the best for consumer after all. For example tv streaming, where if your favorite movies/tv series maybe spread over dozen services and you need to pay subscription to all of them. Or it could happen that copyrights get bought by different providers and thus migrate from service to service. I will not be surprised if piracy will have a comeback for movies or tv-series. So with gaming it will either be the same (too many providers to choose from), or reverse - if you'd like to play AAA title, you will be locked in with Microsoft.

milkytron 5y ago
I don't think we'll see a bunch of equivalent game passes like we see in video streaming, mostly because Microsoft can act as a de facto gatekeeper for what "passes" can be used, and they'd realistically limit it to only theirs, at least on Xbox. On PC something similar may arise, but there would be much more competition and PC gamers may be more reluctant to use these services because there are more options when choosing where and how to buy/download/play games on PC.
baud147258 5y ago
> I will not be surprised if piracy will have a comeback for movies or tv-series. I'm pretty sure piracy numbers for movies and series went up with the number of streaming services