Fact check: Ubisoft executives said that gamers need to become comfortable with not owning their games. I am perfectly comfortable with never owning another Ubisoft game or service again.

1. Summary of the results

The statement is accurately representing Ubisoft's position. Philippe Tremblay, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, did explicitly state that gamers need to become "comfortable" with not owning their games ^{[1] [1]}. He drew direct parallels to how consumers adapted to not owning DVD and CD collections, suggesting this is a natural evolution of media consumption ^{[1] [1]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements were omitted from the original statement:

• The gaming industry is experiencing a significant digital transformation, with 95% of the video game market expected to be digital ^[2]
• In the UK specifically, digital sales already account for 90% of the games market ^[3]
• There are serious concerns about game preservation and the possibility of games disappearing from subscription services ^[3]
• While Tremblay argues that progress and game engagement are preserved in subscription models, many gamers still prefer physical ownership ^[1]
• Historical precedents suggest that while gamers are currently uncomfortable with this shift, adaptation to new consumption models is possible ^[4]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement reflects a personal reaction rather than misinformation, but it's important to understand the competing interests:

• Ubisoft's financial interests: As a game publisher, Ubisoft would benefit from a subscription-based model through:
• Predictable recurring revenue
• Greater control over game distribution
• Reduced costs associated with physical production
• Consumer interests: Gamers have legitimate concerns about:
• Long-term access to purchased content
• Game preservation
• Dependency on continuous internet access and service availability

The shift towards digital ownership is presented by Ubisoft as inevitable ^[2], but this characterization may serve their business interests more than consumer interests.