What was your opinion on the subscription service?

[Butterkeks93]

It's a "scam" in my opinion.

You end up paying 60€ a year, which is roughly the amount of money I've spent on the whole game, including all DLCs.

So after one year, I would've paid the same, no matter if I subscribe or buy. The difference is, that after one year of subscription, you still don't own anything. So you cancel it, paid the same as me but don't have anything in your library.

You can get a DLC for 3€ out there, the sub is waaaay more expensive, especially when you consider that most people here are playing since years and will probably keep on doing so.

 

[ImAdrian]

You can cancel it after 1 month, right?
I see it as a good opportunity for new players to try out the game with ALL DLCs, for just 5$. Thus they can see if they really like the game, and can then consider buying the dlcs if planning to play long-term.

 

[Lykus Cerebros]

It's a "scam" in my opinion.

You end up paying 60€ a year, which is roughly the amount of money I've spent on the whole game, including all DLCs.

So after one year, I would've paid the same, no matter if I subscribe or buy. The difference is, that after one year of subscription, you still don't own anything. So you cancel it, paid the same as me but don't have anything in your library.

You can get a DLC for 3€ out there, the sub is waaaay more expensive, especially when you consider that most people here are playing since years and will probably keep on doing so.

Sure if you can get it on sale or cheap it's more expensive, but I don't think the casual gamer really plays the game for a whole year. In my experience there a lot of players who pick the game up for a couple of weeks every 4-6 months or so.

That would probably make it much cheaper than buying every new DLC.

 

[Butterkeks93]

You can cancel it after 1 month, right?
I see it as a good opportunity for new players to try out the game with ALL DLCs, for just 5$. Thus they can see if they really like the game, and can then consider buying the dlcs if planning to play long-term.

That's how I'd advise people to use it. In the long term, subscriptions are always more expensive than buying.

Sure if you can get it on sale or cheap it's more expensive, but I don't think the casual gamer really plays the game for a whole year. In my experience there a lot of players who pick the game up for a couple of weeks every 4-6 months or so.

That would probably make it much cheaper than buying every new DLC.

If you do it like that, it may take longer to hit the Break Even point, but as long as you're playing more than ~12 months (considering that it's possible to buy the game with all DLCs for around 60€) in total, the sub becomes more expensive. I don't think there's too many people who plan on playing with all DLCs while also playing less than 12 months.

 

[Lykus Cerebros]

If you do it like that, it may take longer to hit the Break Even point, but as long as you're playing more than ~12 months (considering that it's possible to buy the game with all DLCs for around 60€) in total, the sub becomes more expensive. I don't think there's too many people who plan on playing with all DLCs while also playing less than 12 months.

You are ignoring the fact that in these 12 months there would be at least one DLC. That's 20-30 € at least.

But who picks up all the DLC in one go anyway? I don't think I would even if it's 75% off that's still far more than 5 € and wait for the next sale.

Your whole argument is that a sale is cheaper than a year of subscription but that requires that requires that a significant sale is ongoing at every time. The subscription fixes that problem since at ten minimum it's a stop gap while you can wait for a sale, catering to those who want everything right now or recurring players who want to check out the new stuff.

 

[prismaticmarcus]

But who picks up all the DLC in one go anyway? I don't think I would even if it's 75% off that's still far more than 5 € and wait for the next sale.

that's how i bought CK2. i was $70 for all the DLC's except the newest one.

 

[Exorcimus]

I feel it's a good way for people who don't have any dlc to play the game a couple of months.

Compared to all the die hard players here, most people play this for no longer than a month or two.

You can do this quite a few times before paying the full price, or just do it till you get the chance to buy the collection for cheap.

 

[Butterkeks93]

Your whole argument is that a sale is cheaper than a year of subscription but that requires that requires that a significant sale is ongoing at every time. The subscription fixes that problem since at ten minimum it's a stop gap while you can wait for a sale, catering to those who want everything right now or recurring players who want to check out the new stuff.

Nope.
I can buy all DLCs except the newest one for 3-5€ every day of the year.
Just don't buy on steam directly, but buy steam keys from reseller websites instead.

 

[Lykus Cerebros]

Nope.
I can buy all DLCs except the newest one for 3-5€ every day of the year.
Just don't buy on steam directly, but buy steam keys from reseller websites instead.

OK so that means not all are available to you because you said yourself except the newest.
Also 3-5 for every DKC together or separately? Because if its seperatly you are still looking at 30-50+ bucks.

Also if for everything together I would highly doubt that these keys are acquired by legal means. Getting such a sale once or twice per year (humble bundle has one atm) yeah sure I agree that's possible. Getting one every day of the year most likely not.
But if that's possible and legal I am sure you can share these links here.

 

[Saladin87]

Considering the stage of the game in its life cycle, as a player who started playing recently, the subscription is the best option for me. EU5 is a different story.

 

[Kanem Bornu]

It's good for some people, not good for others. I'm glad the option exists for those who pick up the game on a less regular basis than the people who post on this forum likely do.

 

[holyvigil]

It's a good option that is better for some worse for some.

In the long run, the subscription costs more than buying the DLCs outright. Thus, it's another instance of how being poor can be more expensive than being rich. You could make an argument that it's immoral or exploitative on that basis, but I don't feel strongly enough about the issue to do so myself.

Or they could just put away $5/mo they'd spend and thus logically can afford on the service and buy it all the year after.

 

[ancapailldorcha]

It's absurd.

If their problem is that the full game costs over €250 on Steam and this is their response, they need to recaibrate IMO. I'd say lower the cost of the base game to something like €10 and then have a €40 Conquistador version or similar with some of the more essential DLC's. Paying half the price of Netflix a month for one videogame is ridiculous. For less than double the price, I can get Gamepass which has several more games.

I love EU4 and own all of the DLC, even the filler like unit and music packs but the store page is a mess. I'd also be doing fresh tutorial videos every significant update on Youtube for anyone who's curious about picking it up.

 

[please add multithreading]

The second they make their dlc or games even subscription only I can just get it through other means so it doesnt matter for me personally.

 

[Sharples88]

It's not good and only shows some of the flaws to try and justify their bottom line. The base game (nearing a decade old at this point) should not be £34.99.

If you're going to make a subscription, make it to include most of your games (exceptions for newer titles ofc). That's why EA Play/Xbox are great deals, not a singular subscription as if I'm being charged to play an MMO.

 

[newtlord]

I am prepared- provisionally- to bend over and accept the fact the gaming industry is doing its level best to move to a subscription model, but the fact that I can't make the [insert expletive of choice] ad for it stop showing up is enough to make me call down imprecations.

 

[Vapiritapiri]

I don't like how everything is a subscription these days. At least this one is optional.