While subscription services likeXbox’s Game Passis often seen as a boon for gamers given you can save a ton of money in order to play a lot of games, not everyone is on-board the subscription model.
One of the people concerned about subscription services isShuhei Yoshida, the former head of PlayStation Studios.
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Yoshida Thinks Subscription Services Might Dictate What Type Of Games Will Be Made
Yoshida talked about subscription services in aninterviewat Gamescom LATAM, where the former PlayStation employee explained why he thinks it could be “dangerous” for developers.
Yoshida shares, “If the only way for people to play games is through subscriptions that’s really dangerous, because what [type] of games can be created will be dictated by the owner of the subscription services. “That’s really, really risky because there always must always be fresh new ideas tried by small developers that create the next wave of development. But if the big companies dictate what games can be created, I don’t think that will advance the industry.”
Interestingly, Yoshida thinks Sony’s PlayStation Plus service is healthier for developers, wherein major first-party games are given as part of the service’s free games, but only after a more traditional game release. And before anyone says anything, Yoshida acknowledge his own bias given he is a former executive of Sony’s PlayStation division.
“I believe the way Sony approached [subscriptions] is healthier. You know, not to overpromise and to allow people to spend money to buy the new games. After a couple of years there won’t be many people willing to buy those games at that initial price, so they’ll be added to the subscription service and there’ll be more people to try [those products] in time for the next game in the franchise to come out,” Yoshida commented.
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If you think Yoshida is some Sony shill given his history with the company, the former exec tells it like it is, and he also spoke out against Sony’s live-service push in gaming, andhow he would resist it if he was still in charge.
We also got the chance to sit down andchat with Yoshida at Gamescom LATAMwhere we asked what he thought of the possibility of a Legend of Dragoon remake, and a lot more.
Shuhei Yoshida worked at Sony for a total of 31 yearsbefore departing the PlayStation division in Januarythis year.
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