subscriptions may actually be the next big thing in digital card games

What started out as a rant earlier this week about the bad idea of ​​a subscription model Foyer it would have become much more: a soapbox comparing the economics of traditional TCGs and digital card games, and realizing that the latter may still have room for growth in terms of monetization—it may actually be better for the players. .

While the sound another one monetization scheme for Foyer sure to make players groan, in practice it might actually make sense. So in today’s Soapbox, I’ll discuss whether the proposed subscription mode is something that can or should be embraced by the digital card game genre as a whole… Foyer.

Can a subscription work?

Based on the numbers suggested in Blizzard’s survey, a player can expect to pay $120 a year ($10 a month) to get access to the standard. Foyer cards and class. It includes all cards of the chosen class for the year, including neutral cards, core set and expansion. Players will pay $240 per year ($20 per month) if they want access to all maps, including the expansion.

What is this? Who will pay the $10? There is literally no point in buying this. It is manipulation. It just makes the $20 option seem like a more sensible idea. But I’m sure brighter minds have already figured it out; I’m more concerned about its viability as a monetization strategy for digital card games. I think it makes sense for a game like this Foyer – but it probably won’t work MTG: Arena or Legends of Runeterra.

MTG: Legends of the Arena and Runeterra secondary to their own company’s core product. In Magical In this case, making the cards available online can reduce the value of the physical cards, as it can take players away from the breadwinners. Due to the depth of involvement many players have in trading these Magic cards, this is in the best interests of Wizard of the Coast. no rock this boat too hard above all else After the reaction of the 30th anniversary packages. There is a risk of cannibalization of the product.

LoR Riot already has a niche in its ecosystem: it exists to keep both players interested League of Legends and the untitled MMO Runeterra. But Foyer is in a single space; it’s not there to play the players Surprise! Wow. Rather, it should be considered a person’s “core game.” And just like that the magic of gathering offers different card boosters and formats to play the game, Blizzard should know there is a different way to pay. Foyer indeed, this can be useful for many “core game” players, and that includes potentially competitive players.

For players who don’t want to deal with RNG, a subscription fee would make sense. They will pay $240 and get a set for the year. Expensive, absolutely. But Foyer It already has this reputation for being expensive, so instead of making it cheaper for the player, Blizzard would save the money players spend on it. more predictable.

But holy cannoli, $20 a month? World of Warcraft is $15 per month and subscribers get access to retail and classic servers. Observation it’s free to play with a battle pass that lasts about 60 days. So that’s about six Battlepasses per year, and players can get just the $10 Battlepass or the more expensive $20 Battlepass, which offers experience boosts and free levels. That works out to between $60 and $120 per year, depending on which flavor of Battlepass a person buys. I know players of both games can spend more, and my abacus calculations can only go so far without knowing how Blizzard will make money. Overwatch PvE content. But compared to Blizzard’s other games, it’s one of the biggest spenders to date.

And there are probably players who won’t need this subscription. For players who only test a few types of decks a year, it’s best to buy a bunch of packs, switch out the cards they don’t need, and build the deck. There are players who have already played this much Foyer that they have more powder than they will ever need.

But who would it be for?

Well, it is no for hardcore Foyer player playing wild format. There is no reason to replace these players. The query language suggests that the extension unsubscribes once it exits the rotation.

But do you know who it might work for? The player who plays Foyer a few months a year…like me. He I felt bad When I dropped $70 last year Journey to the Sunken City So that I can run a Naga Mage deck, a control deck. (Yes, I’m a control gambler. Sue me.) And I know myself – I know I’m not a gambler. Foyer the whole year. I liked the feeling of $70 flying out of my wallet knowing that my deck wouldn’t even work in six months and I might have to spend. another $70 just to play this fun new deck. In other words, the subscription is for the player who plays standard and is not very attached to the game – i.e. the typical player Foyer giving pleasure.

But on the other hand, this model can also answer the problems Foyer esports is currently experiencing. on the esports cutback dev blog shared by Foyer team, one of the frequently asked questions is, “Is this due to low viewership over the past three years due to YouTube exclusivity?” The response was: “Our goal is to balance the costs of esports production with the size of the competitive community.” It seems to me that Blizzard is cutting back due to less competition (and not just due to the cut of the Chinese component of tournament play). We can easily relate this to the value of entering a higher level of competitive play. A sub-fee that removes these barriers can help attract players who are interested in ranking but don’t have a collection to compete with. Taking it a step further, a consistent subscription base could also help fund esports events that Blizzard is forced to cut.

Essentially, players will have a choice: spend up to $240 a year to play standard, or spend an unexpected amount of money on cards they can keep forever (or for a long time). Foyer servers remain in place) with the option to play in a wild format. The choice you make will depend on your play style and game goals.

That is, the price offered is still quite high for the product offered. Only enters Foyer maps and no other features in battlegrounds and mercenaries justify the $20 price tag? I doubt it. From Blizzard’s perspective, it seems like Substance’s target audience is the average gamer — not exactly. Foyer avid, but not a completely casual gamer either. Personally, I’d love to have more features with the subscription so it’s worth it from a player’s perspective.

But if Foyer it was part of a certain Game Pass service that costs $10 per month for PC only and It lets me play other games too, maybe it won’t be so bad…