Games as a service: Difference between revisions

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'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model ~~that is~~ designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or ~~given out~~ for free), typically ~~with~~ new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice ~~with~~ this ~~business~~ model is ~~having the ability~~ to pre-~~emptively~~ purchase ~~this~~ content with the promise that it will be released at a ~~certain~~ time, and will ~~feature~~ all ~~of the content that was promised~~ in the ~~products~~ listing. Games as a service also typically ~~have~~ a premium currency ~~that you~~ purchase with real-world currency to ~~purchase~~ in-game items.

'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or offered for free), typically through new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice in this model is allowing players to pre-purchase content with the promise that it will be released at a specified time, and will include all features advertised in the product's listing. Games as a service also typically has a premium currency, which players purchase with real-world currency to acquire in-game items.

==Issues==

While GaaS ~~provides an incentive for a developer~~ to ~~continue to produce~~ content for their game, ~~once the developer or publisher decides to stop supporting~~ the game~~, it~~ often ~~becomes~~ completely unplayable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or ~~any~~ content ~~purchased within~~. The [[End-user license agreement]] typically ~~absolves~~ the publisher ~~of any such duty~~, as it ~~states~~ that ~~you~~ are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28</ref>

While GaaS incentivizes developers to keep producing content for their game, the game often risks becoming completely unplayable once support is discontinued.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or its in-game content. The [[End-user license agreement|End-User License Agreement (EULA)]] typically disclaims the publisher's obligation to refund or compensate users, as it clarifies that they are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28</ref>

==Examples==

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===EA===

In recent years EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and ~~have~~ received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.

In recent years, EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and has received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.

==References==

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 {{StubNotice}}
-'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model that is designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or given out for free), typically with new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice with this business model is having the ability to pre-emptively purchase this content with the promise that it will be released at a certain time, and will feature all of the content that was promised in the products listing. Games as a service also typically have a premium currency that you purchase with real-world currency to purchase in-game items.
+'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or offered for free), typically through new updates, DLC, and microtransactions. A common practice in this model is allowing players to pre-purchase content with the promise that it will be released at a specified time, and will include all features advertised in the product's listing. Games as a service also typically has a premium currency, which players purchase with real-world currency to acquire in-game items.
 ==Issues==
-While GaaS provides an incentive for a developer to continue to produce content for their game, once the developer or publisher decides to stop supporting the game, it often becomes completely unplayable.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or any content purchased within. The [[End-user license agreement]] typically absolves the publisher of any such duty, as it states that you are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28</ref>
+While GaaS incentivizes developers to keep producing content for their game, the game often risks becoming completely unplayable once support is discontinued.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] - youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-24</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or its in-game content. The [[End-user license agreement|End-User License Agreement (EULA)]] typically disclaims the publisher's obligation to refund or compensate users, as it clarifies that they are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>[https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era] - kelleherbros.com - accessed 2025-01-28</ref>
 ==Examples==
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ===EA===
 {{Main|EA}}
-In recent years EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and have received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.
+In recent years, EA has garnered a reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and has received criticism for over-reliance on microtransactions and DLC.
 ==References==