Former PS executives bombarded XGP: Subscription model harms the healthy development of the gaming industry

　　Former PlayStation Global Studios Chairman Shawn Layden recently criticized game subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass in an interview with GameIndustry.biz. The former Sony executive bluntly stated that such business models are having a negative impact on the game industry, not only harming the interests of developers, but also changing players' consumption habits.

Although Xbox Game Pass currently has more than 35 million subscribers, Layden compared it to "Netfly in the gaming industry", believing that this model is exactly the same as Spotify, which has caused the decline of the music industry. He particularly criticized the practice of first-time games for subscription services: "This is essentially encouraging people to be unwilling to pay for games, which is extremely unfavorable to the development of the industry." When talking about Microsoft's recent massive layoffs, Layden questioned: "Is Game Pass really profitable? What developers get from it is just a meager income like a slave."

This remark was with Raphael, founder of Arkane Studios Colantonio's previous criticism echoed. However, some developers hold the opposite view. Josh Sawyer of Obsidian Studios once said that without Game Pass, experimental works like "Pentiment" would not have been released.

　　At present, Microsoft still adheres to the subscription strategy and maintains service operations through price increases, cross-platform issuance and other means. Analysts pointed out that as first-party masterpieces such as "Starry Sky" and "Forza" are gradually landing on PS5, Game Pass's business model is undergoing subtle adjustments. This debate about the future of the game industry, perhaps as Layden said: "In the end, time will prove how far this model of drinking poison to quench thirst can go."