The year of the subscription
While TV shows and films have been available as part of streaming content libraries for some time now, whether it be Netflix or Neon, companies are now turning to video game subscriptions to create new revenue streams. Publishers like EA and Ubisoft have their own subscription packages but below I compare who I think are/will be the big players in the years to come.
Netflix Games
Will the Netflix of games actually be Netflix? While I was sceptical at first, their latest announcement of games delves beyond Stranger Things and Netflix is now teaming up with already established games like Moonlighter, Spiritfarer, Before Your Eyes, Oxenfree, Kentucky Route Zero and Into the Breach. It’s a good opportunity to introduce newcomers but for me personally, I already own those games.
Where my interest lies is in the exclusives. They’ve just released Poinpy, from the creator of Downwell. Last year they purchased Oxenfree developer, Night School Studio, which makes atmospheric point-and-click-adventure games so it will be interesting to see what they put out after Oxenfree 2.
Netflix are also currently tied to games that run on mobile devices. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re looking into cloud gaming beyond tv-remote-controlled choose-your-own-adventures. Cloud gaming has been a mixed bag with the failure of services like Google’s Stadia but with Microsoft’s determination to push GamePass and Cloud Gaming it makes sense for Netflix not to be left behind when just TV and films alone aren’t helping their profits.
Apple Arcade
Apple has a head start on Netflix with a large roster of high-quality games, many of which were already successful paid apps on the platform but are now available for free through the service. They launched with a great selection of ad-free titles but their releases since then have been few and far between.
While Apple Arcade is available on all of Apple’s main products, PC and Android users are of luck and that’s where Netflix might have an advantage, targeting both platforms.
The main reason I continue to subscribe is that it’s included as part of our Apple One family subscription.
Xbox GamePass/Cloud Gaming
As I’m no longer reviewing games I can no longer justify owning every console and handheld of a gaming generation. Being a new parent also hinders this somewhat! The last Xbox console I owned was the Xbox 360. It was a great console but going forward I chose to stick with one horse. And that horse was PlayStation. Microsoft has also been good at publishing to PC but as I have a rather dated computer without the latest graphics card I’ve missed out on a few exclusives.
GamePass has a large library of games with new titles rotating in every month, often on day one. I have been able to play some smaller indie games like Tunic and Nobody Saves the World on my sorry excuse for a PC. Now that Microsoft owns Bethesda and Activision Blizzard they now cover a sizeable chunk of the gaming industry. The latest Halo (Infinite) landed on the service on day one and so will the much anticipated Starfield.
I was waiting with bated breath for the release of Cloud Gaming in New Zealand (still in Beta) which doesn’t require owning an Xbox or a PC. Instead, games are run on their Xbox-style servers and streamed to a device of your choosing and can be played through an Internet browser.
Last month it finally arrived in New Zealand and it works much better than expected. I haven’t noticed much lag and the streaming quality isn’t an issue on my mobile device. Samsung has announced a partnership with Microsoft to include an app on their TVs but I haven’t found a way to play it off our LG TV yet. I’ve mostly been playing on my iPhone with the Backbone controller (which I spotted at JB-Hifi the other day). I tried a Bluetooth controller with an iPad but every additional wireless connection increases latency. Until it runs well on a TV in New Zealand, I think it’s just a fun experiment.
PlayStation Plus Essential/Extra/Premium
Sony has just released a revamp of their PlayStation Plus service but they aren’t going to the extent of Microsoft’s GamePass. They won’t be releasing first-party titles like the upcoming God of War Ragnarök to their service on day one, saying it would detract from the quality of their games. It also doesn’t help that they’ve created three separate tiers to add to the confusion.
Essential is basically what the original PlayStation Plus was with a small library of PS4/PS5 games and a couple of games a month you can add to your library.
Extra expands the amount of PS4/PS5 titles with games like Returnal, Demon’s Souls and Spider-Man.
Premium adds a bunch of classic games from PlayStation’s time past, going back to the original PlayStation. Unfortunately in Aotearoa, the selection isn’t great, largely because they haven’t brought cloud gaming to our shores for games that can’t be emulated (like games on the PS3).
I’ve been trialling Premium for the month but if I were to pick a tier it would be Extra. I’ve been playing a bunch of Returnal. I stayed away for fear of its difficulty but have been finding myself enjoying it. It is still very hard. It would be nice not to have to hook up an older console to tickle that nostalgia button with Premium but to be honest, it’s not worth the extra price tag.
Nintendo Switch Online/Expansion Pack
When Nintendo released the ‘Expansion Pack’ to their service there was a lot of humming and harring. But as Sony has jumped on board the nostalgia wallet-squeezing train, this looks like the direction the games industry is heading.
The standard online service offers access to NES and SNES games while the expansion pack adds Nintendo 64 and SEGA Mega Drive games, as well as free access to paid expansions to games like Animal Crossing and Mario Kart.
I’ve heard mixed things about the emulation of Nintendo 64 games but they have been trying to improve it. Again, I can’t justify paying for a subscription to nostalgia but it is nice to have some game preservation.
What you can do right now: USA
Roe v. Wade
On June 24th in America, Roe v. Wade has been overturned by the Supreme Court. This means abortions are no longer a constitutional right and 13 states have already opted to make them illegal. Safe abortions were already tough to access and with half of America expected to outlaw them, it’s creating a desperate situation for 36 million people.
Actions:
Donate to the National Network of Abortion Funds - made up of over 90 groups
Donate to ACLU/Planned Parenthood - advocacy groups for access to abortions
What you can do right now: NZ
KidsCan
The cost of living crisis here is already having a damaging effect on those already living on the edge.
This is why KidsCan started their 15 for 15 appeal. That’s where you donate $15 for the 15%, that’s 144,000 kiwi kids who go hungry.
Action: Donate $15 or more.
Parting gifts
Chris Parker: Back to School
In May, New Zealand comedian, Chris Parker, put out a comedy special on TVNZ where he returns to his high school, Christchurch Boys, to perform and reflect on his time as a closeted gay boy at a traditional boys’ school. Chris also does great bits on Instagram by the way.
James Roque: Boy Mestizo
Continuing the theme of comedy specials, James Roque landed a home for his special with TV Three. I was lucky enough to see this one in person at Bats Theatre after missing the initial run. James examines his Filipino heritage and the Philippines’ long-standing fascination with Whiteness after being colonized by Spain and America. And yes, he still brings the laughs.
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Michael.