Former Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shawn Layden thinks subscription services like Xbox Game Pass are a "danger" to the industry, and that the model risks turning developers into "wage slaves".
In a wide ranging Games Industry interview on the state of the industry, Layden compared gaming subscription services unfavourably with music subscriptions services. While products like Spotify and Apple Music have dramatically undermined physical music sales, musicians—so Layden contends—at least have touring and merchandise as alternative income streams. "The problem with gaming is all we have is launch," Layden said. "That's it. No one wants to pay money to come into the studio and watch people code."
