Uplay+ and the Continued Rise of Gaming Subscription Services
The world of gaming has changed massively in recent years, but one of the biggest shifts has arguably been in the way that people now access new titles.
There was once nothing quite like the anticipation of queuing outside a gaming shop at midnight to get your hands on the latest blockbuster, but that concept seems to be quickly becoming a thing of the past. Games subscription services are changing everything and mean people get access to a library of titles with a simple touch of a button.
Source: Pixabay
A swift impact
Considering the idea of subscribing to a service to access games still seems quite new, it is interesting to note how quickly it has had an impact on the industry. According to figures from Deloitte, 30 per cent of US consumers pay for a gaming subscription service. Incredibly, it is even thought that there are more millennials with such a subscription than those with a traditional pay TV one.
But what are people subscribing to? Of course, a host of different services have popped up in recent years, from the likes of Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus to EA Access and Origin Access.
The latest organization to throw their hat into the ring is now the leading developer Ubisoft, which has been preparing to launch its very own UPlay+ service for several months.
A library of content
Expected to go live at the start of September, the PC service is expected to give members access to more than 100 games, as well as new releases and additional content featured on premium editions. Ubisoft has also said that it will feature early access to games and beta programs where applicable, with gamers always having an opportunity to cancel at anytime.
More than 100 games and DLC announced for Uplay+ 🎉
Check out the full list and get the details 👇
— Ubisoft (@Ubisoft) 16 July 2019
While the service is set to cost $14.99 a month, the developer will be offering an initial free trial in order to encourage players to try it out. Such a step is, of course, a tried and tested tactic and one we have seen used in gaming time and time again, with services like Xbox Live for example occasionally offering free periods to gamers. Welcome promotions are also common in other parts of gaming like the online casino world and you can find out more here about the different deals that such sites offer in order to entice new members.
It will be interesting to see if the free trial has the desired effect, not only in terms of attracting gamers but also then encouraging them to stick around for the long run.
A fascinating time
It is a fascinating time in gaming and the imminent launch of UPlay+ has firmly put the spotlight back on the seemingly unstoppable rise of subscription services. However, it does, of course, raise one key question – with gamers increasingly having a range of different services to choose from, which platforms will capture the imagination and encourage them to part with their hard-earned cash?
There could well be some winners and losers in the subscription battle, so it will be interesting to see how it all ultimately plays out.