The Subscription Payment Model In The Games Industry

Abstract: This thesis aims to examine the current state of business models among game developers and how subscription licensing between platforms and developers currently works. With this foundation the potential future impacts are discussed. The thesis accomplishes this by interviewing developers and using literature data from interviews, articles, and market research. The findings are that the business models of the gaming industry are diverse but that they are tied to the type of game they are implemented in, certain models work better on certain types of games and certain platforms. The agreements surrounding the subscription model between developers and platforms are currently about revenue guarantees or advance payments plus revenue inside games. There is much uncertainty about how the agreements will look in the future. How the agreements are designed will impact developers greatly and change how content is designed and made.