Do you think the backlog phenomenon will eventually cause Steam to change their business model? E.g. transition to subscription based.
If Steam goes to a subscription based model, I will find a new pastime.
The one thing a subscription based model will do is give competitors a chance. Steam won't do that. Also, I suspect Stardock would drop Steam in such a scenario because it would be screwing their customers. (I'm sure Brad has a contingency plan in case Valve goes evil, even if it's unlikely)
I think the PS4 switching to an online junk fee has done wonders for the PC as is- Street Fighter V is going to be a good test of how much it hurt the PS4 ,which has been successful in spite of this, but I think if they kept free PSN Microsoft would have been completely blown out of the water and ended up like the Saturn.
The reason I say SFV is a test is because the game is PS4-PC exclusive and will have cross-play, so folks can choose which version to play and can play against folks on the other platform. Fighting game fans see Street Fighter as their system seller for the most part as well- even if I don't (my all time favorite fighting game hits Steam Friday) The downside if the PC port of SFIV has a bit of a bad reputation, albeit undeserved- so that might hurt PC sales of V, especially since the crossplay is going to force Capcom to work on online harder.
In short, Valve isn't dumb enough to kill the goose by going to a subscription model, it's better to have a monopoly on the eggs.
