Utomik Launches Its Game Subscription Service With Over 700 Titles

[Raevenlord]

Utomik, a company you might not have heard of until now, has just announced they're moving out of the Beta stages of their games subscription program. This is not a streaming service - instead, it's a Netflix-like subscription that grants users access to an ever increasing catalog of games, which they can download to their systems, and then play. So while you won't have any connection or quality issues, and data-cap problems are likely to be less severe, you'll still have to possess the hardware clout to actually render the games.





The more than 760 titles available mean Utomik is claiming their platform has more options than Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation's PS Now services - not to mention EA's Vault. Users can find games from publishers such as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Disney, SEGA, Epic Games, THQ Nordic and Curve Digital, just to name a few. The company says they add about 20 games per month to their service, and have announced that IO Interactive will bring their acclaimed Hitman franchise to the library this summer. Pricing is competitive, and will only get better over time, as more and more playtime and a bigger variety of titles will be available. For €6.99 per month, users can play whatever games they desire; for €9.99, the family plan allows access for up to 4 different users to the same account. The market will ultimately dictate whether or not this service is to become the Netflix of games - the lack of exclusives might hurt it in comparison to other ecosystems.



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[Kursah]

This actually isn't a bad idea in the wave of Software as a Service. Games as a Service kinda fits, and rather than trying to stream as has been attempted over the last decade or more, this access model to actually installing the full game locally is pretty cool.

I for one like this as an option, especially for trying out games and not necessarily wanting to own them because I'll never play them again. But then there's also the fact of yearly costs and how many games could have been permanently owned. I can see some folks really liking this model and it being beneficial, especially if they stay on top of new game releases. They'll have to do something in the face of Humble, GoG and Steam sales where some games are had for very cheap.

In the long term I can see this being really successful, and look forward to seeing what happens.

 

[coonbro]

This actually isn't a bad idea in the wave of Software as a Service. Games as a Service kinda fits, and rather than trying to stream as has been attempted over the last decade or more, this access model to actually installing the full game locally is pretty cool.

I for one like this as an option, especially for trying out games and not necessarily wanting to own them because I'll never play them again. But then there's also the fact of yearly costs and how many games could have been permanently owned. I can see some folks really liking this model and it being beneficial, especially if they stay on top of new game releases. They'll have to do something in the face of Humble, GoG and Steam sales where some games are had for very cheap.

In the long term I can see this being really successful, and look forward to seeing what happens.

''instead, it's a Netflix-like subscription that grants users access to an ever increasing catalog of games, which they can download to their systems, and then play.''

so nothing on if once you get the game you can copy /burn a dvd and use it when ever you want transfer it to a new build ?

then you say this
''Pricing is competitive, and will only get better over time, as more and more playtime and a bigger variety of titles will e available. For €6.99 per month, users can play whatever games they desire; for €9.99, the family plan allows access for up to 4 different users to the same account.''

but like in the real PC gaming days you bought the full game on a retail disk and you hold and own it . no internet required no 3ed party no malware clients or content mandatory no nothing but you your computer and the game fully on the disk personal and private .

so how do you figure any thing over that is ''better'' what can you do now that I could not do before + I hold the disk for forever use as long as its not damaged .

hate to think what there eula contains that most everyone just clicks ''I AGREE '' to anf there foot in in your harddrive .

I guess not being a X box baby sitter generation guy and know what having a real game fully on a retail disk is about I'm glad I don't have to stoop to steam uplay or tthis for any reason I got plenty of real retail games and after I dont need there crap what there calling a game today anyway .

this crap is nothing but a chump trap in the end . [opinion] , and what did you really get for your money when all said and done ?

 

[HimymCZe]

... sadly, this service WILL fail as every other predecessor and we would have to go back to Piracy ...

 

[coonbro]

... sadly, this service WILL fail as every other predecessor and we would have to go back to Piracy ...

go back to piracy ? thanks to the likes of steam type games its more then ever cause no one wants there steam type malware intrusive clients and content on there hard drives . before it was a thing now its a mission . [I mean everyone that knows better ]

thing is you take there malware clients and all first well befor you even get a hint of any game now

who in there right mind agrees to something like this for a game ?

you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.

For reasons that include, without limitation, system security, stability, and multiplayer interoperability, Steam may need to automatically update, pre-load, create new versions of or otherwise enhance the Content and Services and accordingly, the system requirements to use the Content and Services may change over time. You consent to such automatic updating


not me ''without limitation'' understand what that can mean in a contract for them and your system security is all part of it ? I AGREE ..lol... can I play a game now ??

 

[dozenfury]

If this gaming SaaS model is going to work, it's going to be with an approach like Xbox Game Pass. The issue is that most of these services push quantity > quality in order to keep a low monthly sub. Sony with NOW or Microsoft with Game Pass have a big advantage there, since they can roll newer titles in much more easily. I'm not convinced that there are masses of people interested in another monthly sub just to play 10 year old bargain bin games. But include a bunch of old gems along with some new titles like MSFT is doing with Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, etc. and that people will actually consider.

Essentially it's the same situation for movie rental services. If they are going to do all old bargain games, they might as well go the path of Crackle and have it be free with advertising revenue. Even then Crackle at least had some new (and original) content. It takes new and/or original content along with the older filler content, not just a different approach for letting people download and rent old games.

 

[coonbro]

'' I'm not convinced that there are masses of people interested in another monthly sub just to play 10 year old bargain bin games''

i'll go for that , but then old AAA game still available on there full retail disk's went on the 9.99 rack and were the last of the Mohicans that did not force you to go to the likes of steam. I was grabbing them up . I hold the full game software ,and the only way they can stop me is come here un install it and take the disk and make it un readable . not loose my account or stopped supporting the server or what ever like can happen on steam types. I allways like the forums with the ''I cant paly my game cause steam is down or something . I mean really what did you pay for and what did you really get ? that cant and don't stop me in any way I play anytime I want in private off line all day .

then you look at todays games where's the good ol' SP game play at if any SP at all that not 90% cut scenes or story line or just at best 4 hrs worth and its done ? these developers like that MP cause they don't have to invest any programing skills in to them . heck MP and there maps was something we did at home in the in game sandbox and up loaded them to be played on folks own servers that we had control over like that article here on the cheaters , see I see that on my server and your out and banned with steam types your just suffering through it .

like you say if new or old I got no interest in this type of getting your games this way at all and flat don't do it . now they want to go back to full private use retail disk copies .and charge me 100 bucks i'll do that if a good SP action game with real as it should be game play involved . [john carmack where are you ? ]

thing is all they want is there malware clients on your hard drive . that's first priority before you even think about the game starting , no thanks even at 5 bucks for the best out there today


this is why I say its geared to the X-box babysitter gen . cry to dad I want a game he wants you out of his hair , he gives you CC# they download and check I agree not having a clue to what involved in that all they cared about is hurry up and lets play like I showed above , and now there trained to accept that as good great and normal . a old gamer like me aint falling for it in any way shape or form . in the end any game that requires me to connect to the internet for any reason to install and play is a firm no sale .

I also like these games that pretend to be retail disk and guys review how there sitting for 2 hrs downloading something to paly it any way ?? 4 dvd's and you doing that still ?? what did you pay for dvd's with a cool cover and nothing but a steam. origin or uplay client then you got to go to them to get the rest of the game anyway toplay it ?

talk about a sucker is born every minute of everyday . lol...... then add win 10 on top of that . why not buy the retail disk install the game and click the icon and select play with out ever needing internet for anything . how silly this is today

 

[erocker]

... sadly, this service WILL fail as every other predecessor and we would have to go back to Piracy ...

You make zero sense.. Unless you're just looking for excuses to steal. You do know that you can still buy games retail, right? Steam is still around last I checked.

 

[coonbro]

You make zero sense.. Unless you're just looking for excuses to steal. You do know that you can still buy games retail, right? Steam is still around last I checked.

that's funny , more like rent then maybe play at there convenience after there client is installed. [steam uplay , origin ] you buy and own nothing with out them at any given time . seems your fooled . big time saying what you did . you hold and own nothing with out them in the end ''with out limitation''

 

[bug]

You make zero sense.. Unless you're just looking for excuses to steal. You do know that you can still buy games retail, right? Steam is still around last I checked.

You can't buy games. Only rent them (aka buy a license to use them as the developer/publisher sees fit).

Truth be told, I would go for a service like this if I had time to play. When I had time to play, I had stopped caring about the latest and greatest games. Older games that stood the test of time were always more entertaining.

 

[erocker]

You can't buy games. Only rent them (aka buy a license to use them as the developer/publisher sees fit).

Truth be told, I would go for a service like this if I had time to play. When I had time to play, I had stopped caring about the latest and greatest games. Older games that stood the test of time were always more entertaining.

GoG is pretty great for that. Huge catalog of older games and they always have pretty good sales.

that's funny , more like rent then maybe play at there convenience after there client is installed. [steam uplay , origin ] you buy and own nothing with out them at any given time . seems your fooled . big time saying what you did . you hold and own nothing with out them in the end ''with out limitation''

Not fooled, I just don't have a sense of entitlement for things that someone else makes and I don't pay for. I do agree the system sucks.

 

[AsRock]

Personally i don't like it, simple fact that you don't own any thing an have to be online to play or at least have a internet connection. I my self will never support such service. At least i can play most of my Steam games offline if i desire.

This games as a service will end up with a load of backdoor advertising and other crap.

 

[bug]

GoG is pretty great for that. Huge catalog of older games and they always have pretty good sales.

Yes, Gog is where I used to get my fix from. I still have games bought from them and never played. Together with games bought from them, played a little and never finished. That's how I realized I don't really have time to play games anymore

 

[RejZoR]

Same @bug same. Here and an indie game if it's cool and eventually play it, but I stopped the hoarding of games. I'm now slowly playing them. I usually play them in batches. Few years ago I decided to finally play ALL F.E.A.R. games and I finished entire series one by one one summer. I kinda miss that experience and I have hard time getting on doing it, but once I start, it usually keeps on going. Currently I'm playing Little Nightmares. Not every day, but here and there I play few segments of it.

 

[newtekie1]

Personally, I like the idea of renting PC games. When I look at Steam and see all the games I've paid full price for, played for a few hours, then never played again, a rental service like this makes sense. If rental isn't your thing, then fine, but realize there are an entire generation of adults like myself that grew up going to Blockbuster every weekend to rent video games.

I signed up for the free trial just to see what kind of selection they had, and it was pretty much what I expected. Most of their 765 games are indie games. The games that aren't indie games are older titles from 5 or more years ago. They do seem to have some pretty good series of games though. They've got the Batman Arkham series, but not the last one(it's too new I assume), they do have the Metro Redux games, Saints Row 2 ,3, and 4. But I think the best thing I've found is the old Star Wars games. They have some classic AAA games for sure, but nothing modern.

For me, I can see myself signing up and paying for a month every once in a while. But without at least a few modern AAA games, it just isn't a service I can see myself using consistently. I mean, going back to Blockbuster, the reason I was going there every weekend was to rent the latest game and movie, because I couldn't afford to buy it. Without at least some of the latest titles, the big appeal just isn't there.

 

[Fatalfury]

It sounds good.. but i believe they can now only run with older games(games that came before 3+ years ) because they cant afford to buy latest AAA titles to rent it..
i believe EA/ubisoft nor another company would even allow them to do that...on newer games.

but i guess its good for Indie Games & older games .
Same Like netflix , they need to be prepared to run for years in loss & losing millions of dollars if they are planning big.
After 4-5 years , only then they may have high subscribers & the fruit of profit.
Until that...
Good concept though.

i wonder what happen to the concept of nvidia cloud thingy...similiar to this?