Different gaming platforms have embraced gaming subscription services, allowing players to access large catalogs of games for a monthly or yearly fee. Xbox users have Game Pass, which offers AAA day one releases, while PlayStation owners have PS Plus, which was revamped this year to offer greater value. Nintendo Switch gamers can subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online, giving them access to online play and a catalog of NES and Super NES games.

The Steam Deck could also benefit from a subscription service which would make it easier for gamers to get through Steam's enormous library. There are a few ways Valve could go about this, including by offering publisher-specific subscriptions. It would also be wise for Valve to not neglect the indie games market in any subscription services, as it represents an important segment of the Steam Deck's user base.

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Valve Should Team Up With Studios and Publishers

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Steam's library is unimaginably large, and one could exhaust multiple lifetimes playing everything that's on offer. This makes it somewhat difficult to craft a subscription plan, especially when there are so many gamers with different tastes to cater to. One of the best ways to deal with this problem would be for Valve to work with different studios and publishers to provide various publisher-specific subscription services, allowing gamers to pick a plan that works best for them.

Plenty of publishers already have subscription services, including Ubisoft which offers Ubisoft+, granting subscribers access to over a hundred games from the publishers. For a small monthly fee, gamers can access to AAA titles such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Watch Dogs: Legion, as well as classic titles such as the Rayman franchise. It is an attractive deal, especially for gamers who are fans of open-world games, which Ubisoft has an abundance of. Similarly, EA offers EA Play, which is available on consoles and PC. With the subscription, gamers gain access to a catalog of games from the company and steep discounts on EA games.

A Steam Deck subscription which is divided according to different publishers would be a good idea, as it would give gamers control over what catalog of games they want access to. It would also avoid overinflating the subscription price by stuffing it with games that gamers are not interested in. Gamers who have their Steam Deck for playing PlayStation games portably could simply get a PlayStation subscription, while gamers who are Grand Theft Auto fans would be able to grab a Rockstar Games subscription.

Valve Should Not Forget About Indie Titles

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Although Steam is a great place to buy the latest AAA games, the store's popularity has also been boosted by the fact that it has become a reliable hub for finding the best indie titles. Although the expensive games will always grab headlines and serve as system sellers, it is worth remembering that indie titles are still capable of drawing hordes of gamers. Hence, it would be a bad idea for any Steam Deck subscription services to neglect the indie titles that comprise so much of the Steam store. A Steam Deck subscription service that caters to indie game fans specifically would be ideal, as it would benefit both gamers and indie developers, who would gain greater exposure to their games. A monthly rotating catalog of the latest indie games would shine a spotlight on the best projects coming out of the always-busy indie gaming industry, and gamers would have a convenient place to find them all.

According to Valve head Gabe Newell, there are currently no plans for a Steam Deck subscription service, though he has acknowledged the popularity of subscription services. He has also stated that the company is open to working with third parties to get their subscription services on the Deck. If handled correctly, a subscription service from Valve for the Deck could be wildly successful, especially if Valve works closely with other gaming publishers. However, it appears that there won't be one coming in the near future.

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