Palworld Dev states Gamepass is 'very much worth it' as a Indie Developer
- Thread starter MMaRsu
- Start date
Tiago Rodrigues
Member
"yes, Gamepass is worth it when they pay a lot of money"
Usually the ones that say its worth is is the developers from games that are console-exclusive to Xbox. So they get paid to keep the games from other platforms. Of course it's worth it when you're an indie developer.
Usually the ones that say its worth is is the developers from games that are console-exclusive to Xbox. So they get paid to keep the games from other platforms. Of course it's worth it when you're an indie developer.
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Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
So it seems the developers themselves are more than happy about the viability of Gamepass
Time to eat crow Gamepass haters
It doesn't even need to be said really. Are there any games on GP? Yes. Every one of the games was put on there voluntarily. It's self-evidently true because it exists.
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Punished Miku
Human Rights Subscription Service
I played it on GP and bought Palworld.
Every copy played on gamepass a copy not sold.
HeisenbergFX4
Member
Want the bank up front or risk the game flopping?
Every copy played on gamepass a copy not sold.
I guess it depends how much faith you have in your game.
With how Palworld exploded they likely would have done better selling each copy
As did I, I try to reward devs with games I play a ton even if they are on GP
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DeltaPolarBear
Member
We don't doubt that MS paid them well. What we always doubted is that MS get their money's worth back from Gamepass customers. And as such Gamepass never managed to sustain itself.
"Warchest" and "MS can paid for it for an eternity" talks later, we have Xbox sun-setting its hardware. Still, good deal when you can get it. Free money is free money. Sustainability is Microsoft's problem, no skin off the game dev's nose.
"Warchest" and "MS can paid for it for an eternity" talks later, we have Xbox sun-setting its hardware. Still, good deal when you can get it. Free money is free money. Sustainability is Microsoft's problem, no skin off the game dev's nose.
Lokaum D+
Member
This just make my point stronger, you would have bought two copies If not for game pass
An unknown lower budget game that has issues with exposure sure I can see that. Known games that cost $100M+ I very much doubt. Some indie devs have even lambasted it after the fact but those are usually the people who have regretted the longterm sales once their IP became a household name. They wanted their cake and to eat it too. I suppose there is some uncertainty as to where their exposure came from and they believe that there would be better sales.
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Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
LOL, how obvious is this that OP and even this dev ignores?
With the subscription model the push is always to improve margins and with a service that isn't growing in subscription base the only things to do are increase the price of the service and reduce the payouts to publishers.
Even when successful, we've seen the extraction in value and how destructive it is. Netflix has cost the industry billions. It's largely unsustainable and the natural state of things is why netflix keeps rising in price. It's why shows get canceled so quickly.
The very nature of game development makes subscriptions substantially more dangerous for the industry than film/tv.
Connificent
Al Pachinko, Konami President
PauloRoberto
Member
That is evident. You get 'guaranteed money' even before knows if your game will be a success or not. Problem is: you should not rely on this money exclusively in any way share or form.
MiguelItUp
Member
I don't know why people act like Game Pass is forced onto devs. It isn't, at all. They choose to go to Game Pass, and for several reasons. Does every developer want to use Game Pass? No, but that doesn't mean anyone is wrong in their decision.
From my understanding, those that have used it have no regrets. While those that haven't have none either.
From my understanding, those that have used it have no regrets. While those that haven't have none either.
Mibu no ookami
Demoted Member® Pro™
I absolutely LOVED MoviePass and knew from Day 1 that it wasnt' sustainable. I watched an interview with the founders and even how he described it being sustainable, it was obvious that it wasn't. They ultimately tried to leverage their userbase to get a share of concessions from theaters, but they held firm.
Even AMC A-List a successor program driven directly by a theater company has massively increased prices (at a time where it makes little sense to).
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
My thought has been as of late that games sell so poorly on Xbox that its no longer worth the porting cost.
Gamepass is one way that the developers know that they can extract money from Xbox.
If I were developer....I am saying this with limited knowledge...I'd ask Xbox to front the porting cost and have my game paid for.
I'm not so sure. I think there was a lot of hyping by the xbox media (Jez, Warren and co) at the time due to gamepass/xbox marketing and it being exclusive for a while. It resulted in good exposure for the game. Meanwhile something like Baldurs Gate 3 which I believe MS offered only $5M for didn't go to gamepass. Sold a shitload on PC/PS5 as an exclusive for a while. Could you imagine if Larian had taken the $5M offer? Not worth it at all there.
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JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
People act like MS will continue to subsidize Gamepass.
They won't. You cannot call something a success when their biggest hitter...Call of Duty...failed to result in significant increase subscribers. You simply cannot come to the conclusion.
Having said that, it has survived longer than I expected it would.
I never expected Doom Dark Ages (DDA) would be a Day 1 until it was announced.
If sales buzz is to be believed, then DDA didn't light the world on fire saleswise, which makes it extremely unlikely that it moved the needle Gamepass wise....time will tell.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Topher
Identifies as young
I would imagine GP would be an enticing option for new devs like Sandfall who need a financial boost to get started. It is definitely a lower risk option. The problem with the Palworld dev's statement is he seems to be casting a much wider net with this. Does it make sense for all indie devs to put their games on Game Pass? Probably not.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Gamepass is obviously good for publishers and studios or they wouldnt use it. Its been around for years at this point, so it is pretty apparent that it works well for them.
The problem is that you forego some PC sales unless MS allow console only gamepass deals, but I don't think they do? So you extract money from xbox but you may lose sales on PC in the process.
nowhat
Member
Microsoft offered Larian $5M for BG3 to be on Gamepass. Larian (respectfully or not, I don't know) declined. I don't think Larian is unhappy about that decision.
vaibhavpisal
Member
If it makes sense for Palworld (one of the biggest success stories), it makes sense for a whole lot of devs.
They definitely dont need gamepass, but still think its worth it. Now imagine devs that don't have a hugely successful game at their hand. What would they think about guaranteed income?
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
No they didn't, you and T Three
Are confusing their internal estimate from when the game was in early access.
Larian was not given that offer.
Xbox Estimated A Very Low Price To Get Baldur’s Gate 3 On Game Pass
Xbox underestimated the game's massive success.
www.gamespot.com
vaibhavpisal
Member
BG3 sold well. But can do way more.
I suspect they are kicking themselves for not negotiating for a good gamepass deal.
You dont go viral properly unless you are on gamepass.
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Topher
Identifies as young
A whole lot of devs don't put their games on Game Pass. I don't think we can say that if it makes sense for Palworld then it makes sense for every game.
diablos991
Can’t stump the diablos
If gamepass was bad for developers we wouldn't have nearly as many developer utilizing it.
It's certainly bad for publishers, but publishers are scum.
It's certainly bad for publishers, but publishers are scum.
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poodaddy
Member
Whoa, whoa now! We don't tolerate this kinda level headed, calm, even handed, unbiased thinking around these parts son! Now do your civic duty, grab a pitchfork and a basket of vegetables, and choose a side!
vaibhavpisal
Member
There is a queue for getting onto gamepass.
Unfortunately, as Sala notes, getting your game onto Game Pass is not in the hands of developers or publishers, explaining that "Microsoft carefully curates Game Pass with a regular release cadence. If your game fits the schedule and meets expectations and you have signalled you're open to making a deal, Microsoft might offer you a slot."
nowhat
Member
Seriously, dude. I just ran out. I want whatever you are smoking, because it seems to be some really good shit.
JohnnyFootball
GerAlt-Right. Ciriously.
$5 million....dude where the fuck did you get that low ass number?
BG3 should have been offered $50M and even then I am not sure I would have taken it.
Lokaum D+
Member
Say that to Arkane
Topher
Identifies as young
Then it works both ways. Game Pass is not necessarily good for all games. Not all games are good for Game Pass.
And I'm pretty sure there is zero chance Larian is "kicking themselves" for not getting a Game Pass deal. That's just absurd.
vaibhavpisal
Member
Dude, cmon.
How much did BG3 sold? 15 million or so, majority on PC.
Imagine if this were on gamepass now. That would double the player count + $20-30 million after some negotiations.
Out of those new players, if even 5 million they are able to convert as sales for their next game, they can be doing so much better.
DeltaPolarBear
Member
And that brings up a different problem. Which is that Xbox decides what gets on Gamepass. The issue with subscription is that you can't choose to reward any one game you loved, you just had to pay up one fee and it gets distributed. This is a similar issue with popular shows on Netflix. Basically the fans are unable to financially support what they love in a way that mattered and which could protect the franchise and grant it sequels. So shows get axed in Netflix because Netflix doesn't see any point keeping it going, even though fans may love it.
Subscription models, disconnects the Consumer from their ability to reward or punish individual products. MS can decide a game sucked and refuse to give it a Gamepass deal, when it could have been a megahit. The same way Xbox decided Killer Instinct is not worth investing in anymore and just murdered the franchise.
Is anyone going to trust Xbox leaders in their taste in games? i certainly wouldn't. So Gamepass is stuck being under the thumb of Xbox leaders deciding what games are worthy.
Mr Moose
Member
Don't expect to see Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox Game Pass, developer says
Baldur's Gate 3 will not be coming to Game Pass, even now the game is available on Xbox.
www.eurogamer.net
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GHG
Member
Do you work for Microsoft in their gamepass content acquisition team?
Also, the offer would have been 5 million, that's not even a starting point for negotiations.
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vaibhavpisal
Member
Just buy the game you feel strongly about.
It will be a problem if subscriptions were only way of getting games. We are not going there, that much is clear. Gamepass isn't going to get 100 million subscribers, for industry to even think about that as a possibility.
HeisenbergFX4
Member
It was from the email exchange from Phil Spencer on their projections, I don't know if we ever actually know what was offered but maybe someone can correct me
Topher
Identifies as young
Cmon indeed. You are just making up numbers my man.
DenchDeckard
Moderated wildly
Why?
Topher
Identifies as young
It was from the email exchange from Phil Spencer on their projections, I don't know if we ever actually know what was offered but maybe someone can correct me
They had the same "expected partner range" for Baldur's Gate 3 that they had for Return to Monkey Island?
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GHG
Member
They had the same "expected partner range" for Baldur's Gate 3 that they did for Return to Monkey Island?
This is why I say it's been more luck than judgement when they manage to get games like expedition 33 and palworld launching on the service.
Literally a case of throwing enough shit at a wall to the point where a few things are bound to stick.