September 2025 PCG Article Discussion

[Zed Clampet]

To put my argument in hopefully better terms:

1) Microsoft is essentially trying to end game buying by getting everyone to sign up to Game Pass.
2) If that were to happen, the entire industry would collapse or have to retool and stop making AAA games (or any expensive games)
3) Microsoft's own studios are a microcosm of this problem.

**** Note that AI throws this whole thing into a tizzy, as it will allow AAA companies to fire most of their employees anyway, thus making the games vastly cheaper to produce, but also providing more competition from good solo devs who will now able to make AAA games. And if some AI companies accomplish what they are trying to accomplish, we'll all be able to make our own AAA games, which causes my head to hurt trying to think of the ramifications.

 

[Pifanjr]

To put my argument in hopefully better terms:

1) Microsoft is essentially trying to end game buying by getting everyone to sign up to Game Pass.
2) If that were to happen, the entire industry would collapse or have to retool and stop making AAA games (or any expensive games)
3) Microsoft's own studios are a microcosm of this problem.

Game Pass could've been a problem if they had actually managed to convert most consumers into subscribers, such that it would've taken Steam's spot as the main platform where people get their video games from. But the subscription cost isn't high enough to cover the cost of making enough games to keep subscribers, so Microsoft would've had to lose insane amounts of money just to undercut every other publishing studio until they had to close.

Basically, Microsoft tried what Walmart did by undercutting local stores, but Microsoft was going up against Steam. There was no way they were going to be able to convert enough consumers and hold out long enough to get rid of the competition.

**** Note that AI throws this whole thing into a tizzy, as it will allow AAA companies to fire most of their employees anyway, thus making the games vastly cheaper to produce, but also providing more competition from good solo devs who will now able to make AAA games. And if some AI companies accomplish what they are trying to accomplish, we'll all be able to make our own AAA games, which causes my head to hurt trying to think of the ramifications.

Doomscrolling is going to get absolutely insane the moment AI can generate content that can compete with human-made content. Platforms like Fortnite and Roblox already have a grip on children because they offer a basically endless supply of "free" content, AI is only going to make that so much worse.

 

[Zed Clampet]

Game Pass could've been a problem if they had actually managed to convert most consumers into subscribers, such that it would've taken Steam's spot as the main platform where people get their video games from. But the subscription cost isn't high enough to cover the cost of making enough games to keep subscribers, so Microsoft would've had to lose insane amounts of money just to undercut every other publishing studio until they had to close.

Basically, Microsoft tried what Walmart did by undercutting local stores, but Microsoft was going up against Steam. There was no way they were going to be able to convert enough consumers and hold out long enough to get rid of the competition.



Doomscrolling is going to get absolutely insane the moment AI can generate content that can compete with human-made content. Platforms like Fortnite and Roblox already have a grip on children because they offer a basically endless supply of "free" content, AI is only going to make that so much worse.

I'm sure they are going to charge per game made when you are making them yourself. The good news is that AI has an open source philosophy, so you'll probably be able to get a free version on GitHub that is just as good as paid versions. Imagine installing something on github and saying, I want a roguelike deckbuilder autobattler with x, y and z, and the actually getting one. Of course, it will take your computer god knows how long to generate that sort of thing. I'll have to buy the RTX 7090 Super for $10,000 that needs a 5000 watt power source (at least, that seems to be the direction Nvidia is headed).