Xbox Game Pass is the gift that keeps on giving to consumers, but developers and publishers have also expressed their admiration for the service over the years - including SEGA, which is "really happy" with the results.
In an extensive rundown about Xbox Game Pass over at Eurogamer, SEGA Europe's senior vice president of commercial publishing, Anna Downing, spoke about the company's relationship with Xbox Game Pass, which has seen titles such as Two Point Hospital and the Yakuza franchise thrive since their inclusions.
"We're really happy with the results and we hope [Microsoft] are too. Ultimately, they wanted quality titles, we wanted to take advantage of a great new opportunity."
Downing also spoke about the success Two Point Hospital has enjoyed since being included into Xbox Game Pass, and how its addition "strengthens the exposure you get to a huge first-party audience".
"[It] helped propel the franchise to over 3 million players worldwide. That's a huge benefit of being on Game Pass, it strengthens the exposure you get to a huge first-party audience... That surge in engagement in turn helps to further establish your product in the marketplace. It's great for us and it's great for consumers who get to experience something they may not have engaged with outside of the Game Pass model."
Finally, she spoke about how SEGA's strategy over the past decade has been to deliver games that continuously update with new content, seeing a mixture of free and premium content available to purchase. With that said, Downing commented on how games could even be developed with a subscription service in mind, depending on how the industry evolves.
"Can that model work within a subscription service? Absolutely. Would we specifically develop games with a subscription service in mind? Potentially. It really depends on how the offerings evolve over the next few years and what consumer demand and expectation is."
There's been a lot of speculation over the past few months on whether Microsoft is looking to make SEGA its next big acquisition. The most recent instance came after a company restructure sparked hope in fans that news was on the horizon. Alas, it seems unlikely - but anything is possible following last year's colossal ZeniMax Media buyout.
Would you like to see a tighter relationship between SEGA and Microsoft? Let us know in the comments below.
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 26
They might want to tell that to the A Way Out dev who was complaining last week.
@ResoluteCustoms we'll add it to the list of things somebody needs to tell that guy. I find Josef Fares to be the most irritating public figure in the games industry since Phil Fish.
Oh, that ***** just loves the sounds of his own voice. If he bothered to show some interest of the industry he's in (apparently), he would know the details and hard facts about GamePass and XBox naming conventions.
But he just likes to complain, and show ignorance for details he should be educated on.
As for SEGA, hell's yes! Would love to see more of them. Bring the Total War games to XBox!!!
Seeing the article at first i thought Xbox acquired Sega..
@Deadcow this is the exact attitude I take with Game Pass. I've logged between 100 and 150 hours on Forza Horizon 4 and have bought both expansions because a) it supports the developer, and b) it goes some way to showing Microsoft that their current Game Pass model works and will encourage them to keep it going. Same goes for Games With Gold; I'm VERY into Jurassic Park (it's my favourite book and film) so when Evolution went on GWG, I bought all the dinosaur packs and the expansions as they released. I figure that I've spent naff all on the base game, so the least I can do is show support for creators that have provided me with so much enjoyment.
And there are games I've bought once they've announced to be leaving the service; the next one I'll definitely buy before it leaves is Slay the Spire.
@JGRockford He likes to think he invented split screen co-op lol
@Deadcow same here. By the time it’s delisted it will have either been free on games with gold or be forever on sale at 7.99 like forza horizon 3 was fin it’s last months available two it’s an easy buy.
@Medic_Alert "From a personal perspective having games like Call of the Sea available to me essentially for nothing allows me to play things that I otherwise wouldn't."
This has always been something I try and hammer home to anyone who plays games but maybe doesn't follow the industry in general or keep abreast of as many games as possible as avidly as I do. Some of my favourite games are ones I've tried on a whim because they were included in PlayStation Plus, Games With Gold or Game Pass; games that I would otherwise be hesitant to spend money on because I wasn't sure they'd appeal to me. The greatest thing about any of these services is they get more games and a greater variety of games into the hands of more players.
Game Pass has been gaming gold since it first launched. Great to know that devs and gaming companies (well, besides Fares) see its potential and get behind it. Like others have said- GP lets me play games I wouldn't otherwise.
Case in point- I'm loving Recore right now and I didn't play it when it launched because of middling reviews. Now I think I'll likely buy it once I finish it. Game Pass makes this possible.
@Medic_Alert Agreed on all points. Just want to piggyback on two of them.
"The money they receive from MS and the exposure the games then get plus sales post Gamepass" - Absolutely this. The exposure alone and putting games in 'the conversation' is crucial. We saw this with Fall Guys, free on PS+, huge sales on Steam. Many other examples who's sales drop off, they go on Gold, GamePass, PS+, sale and then actual sales pick up on that and other platforms.
"From a personal perspective having games like Call of the Sea available to me essentially for nothing allows me to play things that I otherwise wouldn't." (@VenomousAlbino just said it... just as I was typing it!) This is, for me, the current REAL wonder of Game Pass, trying and playing a game with no additional cost. Who needs demos! [Though as an Achievement whore I wish I could turn those off till I had decided if I like a game. 15/1000 is a pain to my soul ]
We desperately need Josef Fares to respond to this ...
3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
Really interesting article about GamePass today over on Eurogamer.
@Medic_Alert This is exactly how I use Gamepass as well. It's a tool. I love it when new indies get added to the service and do well
And the proof is in the pudding. Everyone says Xbox gamers don't play Japanese games, yet Yakuza is flourishing. Cost is a pretty big factor to people trying things out of their comfort zone; more than some realize.
Yes it can be a crunch, and that's where it can be problematic. But when used correctly, Gamepass can be a safety net to try new things.
@ResoluteCustoms he is just grumpy his game while good for one play through only(no replay ability imo) sold poorly but apparently got downloaded and played a lot on gamepass...and there were no add ons or dlc to buy so no money made.
Cool. Can you put Jet Set Radio and Future on gamepass please?
Waiting for Yakuza: Like a Dragon.
Sega acquisition imminent
Does anybody know how developers and publishers make money off this service? I’ve seen articles about developers being happy about the financial benefits. If the games are not apart of franchises (merch, movies, etc...), how does one person paying a monthly subscription fee, equal to financial success, over paying fifty plus dollars for a game?
@outsider83 because Microsoft pays the publisher/developer to get a game onto Game Pass. From what I've read/heard, the amount varies by game and is also dependant on how long the game will be on the service.
Microsoft certainly has the funds to be paying handsome amounts of money to companies in order to get games on Game Pass. There are around 18 million Game Pass subscribers, all paying $10-15 a month, which means that MS is seeing approximately $180-270m in monthly revenue from GP subscriptions; more than enough to secure a healthy mix/number of games. But Josef Fares says he doesn't understand the business model, so what do I know? 😶
The idea of developing games for subscription is the thing that fires up a lot of GP critics. Their fears are well founded it seems, and it's up to players to prevent that.
"they wanted quality games" lol then why did they come to you 😂 atlus is the only good thing to come from sega
@UltimateOtaku91 Like a Dragon? Two Point Hospital? Football Manager? o.O
@mousieone I've played the mobile and touch versions of football manager and they wasn't very good, I've yet to play ang yakuza games and sonic has gone down hill
@UltimateOtaku91 Like a Dragon is really good and new player friendly. It’s wicked funny JRPG
Two Point is pretty funny as well but you have like that style of game ;p
I didn’t mention Sonic 😕
@mousieone I thought I'd throw sonic in their as its one of the games I had in mind when I made my original comment.
Tbh never hear of two point before, what style of game is it
@UltimateOtaku91 simulation. You make hospitals add rooms etc but it’s hilarious let me find-
Here’s a review https://youtu.be/FmaUWz07Ihw
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...