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Veratyr

This clearly isn't the case, there are numerous successful developers that don't use the subscription momdel:

- In the photography space: Capture One Pro, DxO Optics Pro, ON1.

- In the video space: Avid, DaVinci Resolve, Sony Vegas.

- In the illustration space: Corel, Clip Studio Paint, Painttool SAI.

- In the audio space: ProTools, Ableton, ACID Pro.

- Nearly all video games.

- JetBrains, which has a novel subscription + purchase model where you can cancel your subscription and keep using the software.

I'd argue that the only case where you need a subscription model to stay afloat is when you don't add enough value that your users will be willing to purchase an upgrade.

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JetBrains used to have a better model where you paid and got 1 year of updates; then they tried to switch to subscription-only model and upset their individual users (though businesses loved it). After backslash they decided to do a hybrid - you pay yearly/monthly fee, have updates but once you stop you have to go back to the version you used a year ago. I am sure they'll try to phase this out at some point as well.

I'd argue that the only case where you need a subscription model to stay afloat is when you don't add enough value that your users will be willing to purchase an upgrade.

Windows obviously provides a good amount of value, but big upgrades are undermined by the need & expectation for ongoing regular updates, which means <Prior Version Latest Patch> is usually significantly better than <Prior Version RTM>

I bought Arq backup software [1], and as far as I know they've been operating like this for years.

I also bought Moneydance [2], and it's also not a subscription model.

  [1]: https://www.arqbackup.com/
  [2]: http://moneydance.com/

> Nearly all video games.

Have any games development studio attempted a subscription model to games development and release? Not promoting the idea, wondering if it's been considered. Some popular studios with a good track record could certainly entertain the idea.

EA has, with Origin All Access.

The DLC model is essentially an optional subscription. A full year of Call of Duty with DLC through to the next year's launch will cost you about $120. Since people move to playing the new DLC's lobbies, if you don't buy the DLC, you'll find much more limited matchmaking.

I hate the segregating of games like COD by DLC pack ownership, and wish they WOULD just do a $10/month subscription, and keep adding maps and singleplayer campaigns instead of dropping all my favorite maps each year. It's a big reason I no longer buy their titles regularly.

EA offers one called Origin Access, it offers last year's crappy titles for $5/mo. Sometimes some older good stuff too.

You also get early access to new stuff and a discount on new games, friends and I were buying it when Battlefield 1 got released because it was cheap enough that 1 month got you enough savings to make up the $5 price and got you into the beta.

Not a terrible model, but not something I'm excited to pay for in most cases.

Maybe not on a monthly basis per-se, but there are AAA games doing "season passes" for content up front, then release DLC over time (which you can pay for individually).

A more direct comparison would be the various MMO games, some of which still do use a subscription model, though most have gone "free to play".

Problem is lots of the DLC is not up to scratch! Fallout 4, I'm looking at you :(

That's what DLC is, yeah?

The games industry has largely moved to a 1) ship broken/buggy software, 2) charge for content packs, 3) improve game.

Some franchises really buy into this. Battlefield 4 was basically broken on release, but a couple years and season passes later and it finally plays like the game it should have shipped as.

PlanetSide used to be subscription based. PlanetSide 2 moved to in game purchases.

World of Warcraft is a monthly fee and has been for 10+ years now. They also charge for major releases. It's incredible how much commercial value the Warcraft brand has generated and how it's been able to do it in light of other games not being able to do so.

Initial users got on, and people stay because the game exploits human nature.

The IP helps as well.

A bunch of online games have tried this, some of the most popular ones include World of Warcraft, Runescape and EVE Online. It works with these MMORPGs, but for other styles of games it doesn't work.

Unfortunately, de facto subscriptions have infested video games in the form of microtransactions for gear and loot crate gambling -- even for single-player games.

Capture One has a subscription model.

AVID has a subscription model.

(As an option. so yes, they use subscription models, but don't force them)

Capture One offers both, luckily. I'd rather buy it outright.

>Nearly all video games.

except all MMOs ever.

This was a lot truer circa 2004.

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