The trouble is that the new market emerging is ”not really that great” - only some are making a ton of money, but most don’t see revenues like from the console business. Need something innovative.
Zeschuk also touched on Star Wars: The Old Republic and how it’s ”doing really well” as free-to-play. Subscription-based models just ”aren’t going to fly anymore.”
”We are in a kind of sick market for old-school gaming - the traditional retail-based gaming - and as much as EA has moved into digital, the boxed stuff is not as robust. While digital is coming up fast it’s not filling in the gaps,” Greg Zeschuk told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview.
”…right now, there is this sort of classic innovator’s dilemma where we see a new market emerging, but it’s not really that great - with the mobile business, certain people make a lot of money but on the whole it’s not generating as much revenue as the console business.”
”Everyone’s kind of holding out hope for the new consoles, but I honestly don’t think they’re going to be that big a deal. I worry a lot that unless Microsoft or Sony pull something magically out of a hat, it’s pretty much the same old, same old repackaged and I don’t think they’re going to change the dynamic of the retail market,” he continued.
”I don’t see how they can - the market is what it is.”
Activision and Blizzard impress Zeschuk for remaining ”very disciplined and focused, but how long can they continue? They’ve been relying on a smaller number of titles, but no title works forever, and obviously they will be working hard to replace the games they’re working on.”
”So they’re probably one of the shining examples of company that’s done well by really doubling down on a very narrow amount of things, and trying some different stuff - I’m actually really impressed with Skylanders.”
Many MMOs that used a subscription have switched to free-to-play and seen revenue rocket, and The Old Republic is no exception it would appear as they introduced the Cartel Market. Will PlayStation 4 and Xbox manage to pull the industry back to some or all of those retail glory days? Many an analyst crystal ball says so; Greg Zeschuk doesn’t.
