THUMBS
03-10-2014, 11:15 AM
We'd get newer games if they were rented to us, not given away
The Games with Gold scheme is "constrained" by Microsoft's decision to give players a game for life, rather than for the duration of their Xbox Gold membership, Studios executive vice-president Phil Spencer has suggested.
"One of our issues with Games with Gold - not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," Spencer observed in a presentation over the weekend, as reported by Polygon.
"And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a - you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."14085In other words, Microsoft would have to spend a lot more money to secure brand new titles as free Xbox Gold giveaways, rather than renting them to players, as is the case with Sony's PlayStation Plus scheme.
Spencer promised, however, that the offerings would be "more true" to Microsoft's vision for the program in months to come. "I have been sitting down, monthly now, with that team - some of the earlier months were already programmed - and playing a more active role in picking franchises that show up in Games with Gold, and I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there."
Games with Gold occupies the hinterland between a subscription service and paying for individual games, he added. "For us, in the long run, as an industry, giving away content like that is just ... I think there's some steps and some evolution of what Games with Gold or any of the other systems will go through to their full potential. You have things out there that are kind of bigger subscription services, where I get access to a lot of content. Games with Gold is kind of this step in the middle of, 'I get games, and how do I feel about those games.'"
In closing, Spencer remarked that we'll hear more about free Xbox Games with Gold for Xbox One "fairly soon". What do you think - would you prefer to rent newer games, or take permanent ownership of older ones? Bookmark our free Xbox games list for all the giveaways as they surface
The Games with Gold scheme is "constrained" by Microsoft's decision to give players a game for life, rather than for the duration of their Xbox Gold membership, Studios executive vice-president Phil Spencer has suggested.
"One of our issues with Games with Gold - not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," Spencer observed in a presentation over the weekend, as reported by Polygon.
"And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a - you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."14085In other words, Microsoft would have to spend a lot more money to secure brand new titles as free Xbox Gold giveaways, rather than renting them to players, as is the case with Sony's PlayStation Plus scheme.
Spencer promised, however, that the offerings would be "more true" to Microsoft's vision for the program in months to come. "I have been sitting down, monthly now, with that team - some of the earlier months were already programmed - and playing a more active role in picking franchises that show up in Games with Gold, and I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there."
Games with Gold occupies the hinterland between a subscription service and paying for individual games, he added. "For us, in the long run, as an industry, giving away content like that is just ... I think there's some steps and some evolution of what Games with Gold or any of the other systems will go through to their full potential. You have things out there that are kind of bigger subscription services, where I get access to a lot of content. Games with Gold is kind of this step in the middle of, 'I get games, and how do I feel about those games.'"
In closing, Spencer remarked that we'll hear more about free Xbox Games with Gold for Xbox One "fairly soon". What do you think - would you prefer to rent newer games, or take permanent ownership of older ones? Bookmark our free Xbox games list for all the giveaways as they surface