Game subscription services offer a vast collection of games for a monthly fee, which is their primary attraction why Owning Your Games is important.
Nonetheless, the drawback that accompanies this convenience is relinquishing the advantages that come with game ownership.
An all-digital future is where games are headed.
GamesIndustry.biz’s report indicates that digital sales accounted for a whopping 95% of total game sales in the year 2023. Notably, certain games such as Alan Wake 2 and Hellblade 2 have departed from physical copies altogether by releasing exclusively in digital format. Unfortunately, even pillars of traditional retail like GameStop are shutting down an increasing number of stores annually.
Game companies have a motive to advocate for an all-digital future, and while there are only a few indications at present, it poses potential issues regarding game preservation.
According to an article by GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft’s director of subscriptions – Phillipe Tremblay has suggested that players should get accustomed to the idea of not owning their games. Following this statement, Blizzard updated its EULA in March 2024 and notified users that they do not possess ownership over their games.
Additionally, the inclusion of additional games and benefits by Sony and Xbox within PS Plus and Game Pass is making subscriptions more enticing. Notably, Statista indicates that changes in consumer habits demonstrate that gaming subscriptions like Apple Arcade are increasingly outperforming game acquisitions on a yearly basis.
Game ownership is superior to subscriptions, and cannot be replaced.
As more and more players subscribe to games, while game companies embrace such model, the advantages of owning a complete game are becoming increasingly evident.
Game ownership reigns supreme over subscriptions for several reasons.
Complete access is available to you.
Game subscriptions provide access to games only if you maintain an active subscription. This contrasts with owning a game, which allows perpetual access after paying once and having the physical or digital copy on hand for future use.
Additionally, subscription services frequently rotate their content offerings, implying that a particular game may not remain available on the platform indefinitely. The availability of games is subject to licensing agreements (or disputes) with publishers. When you buy a game, it becomes your property permanently and any modifications made to its content or terms of service will never be cause for concern.
The availability of access is not reliant on an internet connection.
To enjoy offline play of the games in subscription services such as PS Plus or Game Pass, a strong internet connection is essential for smooth downloading.
Poor internet connection in your location can make downloading or streaming games difficult and inaccessible if there is no internet. Furthermore, physical games with large Day 1 patches present a more complex challenge since these require an online connection to download.
A Collection Can Be Built by You
Collecting physical games can be highly fulfilling as they lend themselves beautifully to being displayed on a shelf. Additionally, gaming companies might put out diverse versions that boast of extras such as a sturdy steelbook case, captivating box art, intricate art book detailing the making process or story-line behind the game; manuals for added convenience and reference purposes also come in handy along with detailed maps adding extra layers whilst playing; action figures and other related luxury items you cannot find from subscribing services.
The games can be sold later.
If collecting is not your thing, then selling or trading the games after use can be a simple solution. This way, you could retrieve some of what you spent on buying the game and invest it in procuring another one.
The games are shareable with others.
Sharing your account details with someone who wants to play games on the subscription service you paid for is a possibility. Nonetheless, such an action could infringe upon the terms of service and make your account vulnerable to security threats. The only way one can share games without any constraints is by having possession of physical copies that they can lend out for others to enjoy playing.
While subscription services have their advantages, one notable benefit is the potential savings on game purchases over time. Additionally, these subscriptions often provide full access to a game’s DLC and expansions. In the case of cloud games specifically, subscribers can rely on uninterrupted usage of updated versions as well.
While there are undoubtedly benefits to subscribing, we believe it’s not wise to relinquish total ownership. After all, the expenses associated with subscriptions and internet access can accumulate over time.
It cannot be emphasized enough that when games are removed from digital storefronts or subscription services, you may lose access to them and you must abide by certain restrictions concerning what can be done with them.
