Digital Ownership is coming with too many downsides

I have previously written about digital ownership with regard to manga and books. There have been recent statements in the video gaming space that has caused it to come front of mind again.

The recent discussion was triggered by a Ubisoft Exec speaking with IGN about subscription models. Gameranx covered this on their news show if you would like the cliffs notes.

Speaking for myself I have a PC, which is my main gaming platform, as well as a PS4 and a Switch. For the consoles, I purchase almost exclusively physical games and for PC its digital (mainly through Steam). A key difference is that for console you have a choice, you can by physical or digital. PC gamers do not have a choice, you have to buy digital. Even if you buy the game in a box, often you get a cardboard “disc” with a code you redeem on a digital store front. There are exceptions but they are the minority.

The Risk

When it comes to console games I can finish the game, I might buy some DLC but I will take the game into a store and trade it in against another game. This helps to keep my costs down and enjoy more games. If I don’t enjoy a game for some reason I can take it back and get a (near) full refund. Interestingly, refunds are a point of parity between PC and console gamers. Stores likes Steam do put limits on it but you can get your money back if a game is busted on launch for example.

What this does is make me feel like there is more on the line when it comes to PC games. I cannot trade in these games so I need to figure out if I want to commit quickly. Sure I can do research but nothing beats having the game in your hands. Once I miss the window to refund the game then I am out of the money. With games becoming more expensive it represents more risk.

The latest game in Like a Dragon series starts at £60 and tops out at £100! The idea of trying a title where I have 2 hours to figure out if I like it with that much money on the line is too risky. It doesn’t help that JRPGs frequently have a slow build so getting a decent idea of a game such as Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth within 2 hours isn’t possible. This is why I almost never buy a game for PC if it isn’t on sale.

The Cost

I could play the game on Xbox Game Pass for PC but it is not on the service currently. This is also at the whims of the publishers, the agreements will expire and you loose access to the game. Same goes for video streaming services like Netflix.

Actually lets stick with that. The subscription model is very popular amongst companies and lets assume you have a few subscriptions:

• Game Pass – £8
• Netflix – £11
• Spotify – £11
• Discord – £8

That is almost £40 per month in a basic set of subscriptions. Most gaming companies have a subscription model of one kind. You can even get subscriptions for tea & coffee, records, razors or magazines. If you can think of it, you likely can buy a subscription of it. What’s more, the cost of these subscriptions are going up.

The upside?

So what do you get for putting up with catalogue instability and paying the fee? In short, convenience. I’m not 100% sure it is worth it. The main problem I have is that I am not in control of the things I enjoy. The last thing I want is some corporate spat to cause me to loose access to my happiness.

I saw discussions recently about people wanting to watch all of the Pokemon TV show as it had recently come to an end. Admittedly this TV show is massive spanning more than 20 seasons but people struggled to find a single location to watch them all. I think the best suggestion I saw was 3 separate streaming services. This is assuming that this stays put as the distribution rights could change and you need to do the calculations all over again.

While the subscription model offers a streamlined and accessible way to enjoy a vast array of content, I have a desire to maintain a connection with physical media where practical. The ability to trade in games, the tangible presence of a collection, and the sense of ownership over one’s entertainment are aspects that resonate with me. This becomes even more pronounced as the costs and uncertainties associated with digital ownership continue to rise.

How do you feel about the current digital subscription powered standard? Does it work for you or do you find there to be issues? Let me know your thoughts.