Ex-PlayStaton Boss Warns Subscription Services Could Be Dangerous To Devs

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Summary

  • Subscriptions may limit game creativity and development.
  • Sony’s PlayStation Plus approach healthier for developers.
  • Yoshida warns against live-service trend in gaming industry.

Many people view subscription services such as Xbox’s Game Pass favorably because they allow gamers to save significant amounts of money by gaining access to numerous games. However, not all individuals are enthusiastic about the subscription approach.

Among those expressing concerns regarding subscription services is Shuhei Yoshida, a previous leader at PlayStation Studios.

Yoshida Thinks Subscription Services Might Dictate What Type Of Games Will Be Made

In a chat at Gamescom LATAM, Yoshida discussed the topic of subscription services, sharing his perspective on why he finds it potentially risky for game creators.

Yoshida expresses a concern: If gaming is limited to subscriptions, it could be hazardous as the kind of games produced would primarily rely on subscription service owners’ decisions. This, he believes, is quite risky because it’s crucial for innovative ideas from small developers to emerge and drive future development. However, if large companies dictate game creation, he doubts that the industry will progress.

It’s worth noting that according to Yoshida, Sony’s PlayStation Plus service appears to be beneficial for developers, as they release major first-party games as part of the service’s free offerings – albeit after a conventional game launch has taken place. It’s important to mention that Yoshida himself held a leadership position in Sony’s PlayStation division previously, which may influence his perspective on this matter.

Yoshida stated that he feels Sony’s approach to subscriptions is more sustainable. Instead of promising too much upfront, they enable customers to purchase new games at their own discretion. As time passes, fewer people will be willing to buy games at their initial high price, so these titles are eventually added to the subscription service, giving more individuals an opportunity to experience them before the next game in the series is released.

If you assume Yoshida is just promoting Sony due to his past involvement with the company, it’s important to note that this former executive speaks candidly, and he even criticized Sony’s emphasis on live services in gaming. If he were still in charge, he would resist such a push.

Additionally, during Gamescom LATAM, we had an opportunity for a friendly conversation with Yoshida, where we inquired about his thoughts on the prospect of a Legend of Dragoon remake, among other topics.

For over three decades, Shuhei Yoshida was a dedicated member of Sony’s team, specifically within the PlayStation division, until his departure in January of this very year.

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2025-05-29 03:41