Ouya offers all-you-can-play plan, doesn’t get developers onboard
Ouya may have pioneered the Android-based micro-console and made a sensational splash on Kickstarter, but it’s failed to become a mainstream success—or much of a talking point amongst gamers since its somewhat fumbled launch last year.
In an effort to shake up the narrative, Ouya announced today that it will launch an All-Access Pass that allows users the ability to download any of more than 800 games during a 12-month span for a one-time payment of US$59.99 (about £35). Effectively, it’s an “all you can play” approach that provides access to more than US$2000 worth of games for the year.
However, some developers claim that they weren’t properly briefed beforehand about such a major change in approach, being told it was a test run just hours before Ouya began selling and promoting the option. Ouya will still pay developers 70% of the full asking price for any downloaded games, and is surely within its rights to offer such an option so long as partners are properly compensated.
However, adding a game to a subscription plan is a big perception shift for players—and not getting developers onboard for such a move is a mistake. Souring creators on a decidedly niche platform is hardly an advised way to build goodwill for continued support.
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