Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke stated that the company's games will not be available on subscription services, expressing concerns about the impact of such models on developers and consumers. Vincke emphasized the importance of direct distribution from developers to players and the need for idealism in game development. He also ruled out bringing any of the company's titles to subscription services, despite acknowledging the opportunities they present for other developers.
In a leaked email from 2020, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer argues that AAA videogame publishers have failed to adapt to the shift from physical to digital distribution and subscription models like Microsoft's Game Pass. This has led to a reliance on production scale and a reluctance to invest in new IPs. Spencer notes that AAA publishers are milking their top franchises but struggling to create new hit franchises, while relying on rented IPs. He also discusses the impact of game subscriptions on publishers and the need for adaptation in the industry.
Apple Arcade has added 20 new games to its mobile gaming service, including a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-branded battler, a Disney-themed Scrabble-like game, and a follow-up to the Arcade smash hit What the Golf?. The service aims to curate quality content and strip games of microtransactions, even in genres that were initially developed around that monetization model. However, Apple Arcade's growth has been limited due to the abundance of outstanding mobile games on both iOS and Android, including many free-to-play ones with reasonable and non-intrusive monetization.
