Der hersker fortsat debat om hvorvidt abonnementstjenester som Game Pass og PlayStation Plus er en solid nok indtægtskilde for platformindehavere og udviklere, og derefter om hvorvidt spil skal udgives fra start af på disse, eller om de skal have en chance i almindelig retail inden.
Sony har direkte nægtet at udgive deres store førstepartstitler på PlayStation Plus, ligesom Microsoft gør med Game Pass, og de mener at det virker. I et interview med GamesIndustry fortæller Sonys Global Head of Subscriptions, Nick Maguire, at der er evidens for at denne strategi fungerer:
"We're happy with our strategy. Putting games in a bit later in the life cycle has meant that we can reach more customers 12, 18, 24 months after they have released. We're seeing customers still get excited about those games and jumping in. For us, that's working. Occasionally, there will be an opportunity to invest in a day-and-date [release] like Stray, and we will jump on those when they come in. But for us, letting those [first-party] games go out to the platform outside the service first... that's working and that will continue to be our strategy moving forward."
Tror du også at Sony har fat i den lange ende?