How Subscriptions Killed Gaming and No One Noticed
50Subscriptions promised a golden age of gaming—one monthly fee for hundreds of games, hidden gems to discover, and freedom from $70 price tags. But in late 2025, cracks are showing. With Microsoft raising Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99—a 50% hike—gamers and developers alike are questioning the value of subscriptions.
In this video, we explore how subscription models are reshaping the gaming industry, threatening creative risk, and changing the way players experience ownership. From indie exposure and hybrid models to cannibalized sales and opaque developer deals, we break down the real impact of subscription services like Game Pass on gaming culture.
Join us as we examine the data, industry insights, and key moments, including Microsoft’s controversial October 2025 changes. Are subscriptions undermining core gaming values, or is this just growing pains in a digital age? Discover what this means for players, creators, and the future of the games you love.
00:00 - Subscriptions Killed Gaming?
00:42 - The Scale & the Promise
01:30 - The Warning Sign Microsoft’s Game Pass Price Hike
03:36 - Evidence of Value Erosion Lost Sales & Cannibalization
05:00 - Creative Risk, Developer Value & “Wage Slavery”
07:16 - The Loss of Ownership & Permanence
08:28 - Counterarguments & Nuance: It’s Not Black or White
09:33 - Reframing the Thesis Subscriptions Didn’t Kill Gaming They Are Killing Some of Gaming’s Essential Values
10:25 - What Must Change to Prevent Collapse
11:11 - Conclusion
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