Philippe Tremblay, director of subscriptions at Ubisoft, recently shed light on the company’s strategy for video game subscriptions.
As Ubisoft launches its new Ubisoft+ Premium and Ubisoft+ Classics subscriptions, Tremblay discussed the challenges and shifts needed for subscription services to become a more significant player in the gaming industry.
Tremblay acknowledged the rapid expansion of subscription services in recent years but noted their relatively modest scale compared to other gaming models.
He pointed out the positive trends on consoles as PlayStation and Xbox attract new players. From Ubisoft’s perspective on PC, there’s already been success, but Tremblay expressed a desire to further tap into the PC market.
Ubisoft is Trying to Change the Consumer Mindset
The crux of Tremblay’s insights lies in the necessity for gamers to embrace a shift in mindset. Drawing parallels to the transition from owning physical DVDs to digital content, he highlighted the challenge of persuading gamers to be comfortable not owning their games.
Tremblay emphasized that this change doesn’t compromise players’ progress or engagement, assuring that their data remains intact even without physical ownership.
Tremblay underscored the seamless integration of streaming with subscription models. He emphasized the flexibility of paying for gaming services only when needed, presenting an alternative to the traditional constant financial commitment.
Mixed Reactions and Industry Dynamics
While Tremblay’s comments sparked mixed reactions among gamers, it’s crucial to note that Ubisoft continues to release games on-disc, acknowledging the diverse preferences within the gaming community.
The dialogue also raised concerns about video game preservation in an increasingly digital landscape.
As the industry grapples with the balance between physical and digital ownership, discussions about an all-digital future, as seen in Microsoft’s rumored disc-less Xbox Series X, continue to shape the gaming landscape.
In other news, there have been reports of a cyber breach at Ubisoft following the online leakage of images depicting the company’s internal gaming software and developer tools.
