Alan Wake Game Developers Remedy believe an all-digital future is the future for the industry. That’s what CEO of the Finnish studio Matias Myllyrinne told Edge.
Myllyrinne brought up digital distribution while discussing Remedy’s first steps into it via DLC for last years’ Xbox 360 exclusive Alan Wake.
“It was hugely successful, and really resonated with the fans,” he told Edge. “You’re adding to the value that you’re giving people. But I think on the other hand you need to be very careful – the game that you ship and provide folks needs to have a meaningful ending and closure. Having a TV series structure really, really worked well for it because it’s kind of natural for a TV series to go on to season two or have specials.”
The Remedy CEO added that the studio will be looking towards digital content in future.
“I think there’s a lot there,” Myllyrinne said “Certainly we’re looking to embrace more of the digital stuff. I’m really excited about PSN, [Xbox] Live and some of the stuff on Steam, because it really allows you to directly engage with your audience. All these opportunities are opened up that you couldn’t do before – there wasn’t a model you could work around.”
Regular Train2Game blog readers will be aware that digital distribution currently allows smaller Game Developers to release their games without the need for a publisher, and that Train2Game students could potentially sell games this way. Myllyrinne also believes that big titles can also be sold in this way, and that ultimately it’d be good for the games industry.
“I don’t think the big, huge experiences are going anywhere,” he said “but the sooner we go digital as an industry, the better for everybody. Better for consumers, better for the developers and publishers.”
Myllyrinne added an all digital move may not be good for traditional retail, but made it clear he has little sympathy for those pushing second hand games.
“Maybe [it’s] not so good for retail, but then again if you’re selling our games as used copies and incentivising people to do that, then I don’t really feel sorry for you.”
Remedy aren’t the only Game Developers that see digital as the future. Earlier this year the Train2Game blog reported that EA believe it’ll soon overtake traditional retail.
So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on an all digital future? Could it happen? Or will there be a place for boxed products for some time to come? And what are your thoughts on second hand sales?
Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.
