Michael Douse, the Director of Publishing at Larian Studios, recently blasted Ubisoft for how it priced Star Wars Outlaws while also suggesting that “all games should cost more at a base level.”
A screenshot from Baldur’s Gate III (2023), Larian Studios
Douse posted an image of Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition that costs €129.99 and wrote on X, “I don’t love the artificiality of pricing structures post retail. Use the inflated base price to upsell a subscription, and use vague content promises to inflate ultimate editions to make the base price look better.”
He added, “It all seems a bit dangerous & disconnected from the community.”
I don’t love the artificiality of pricing structures post retail. Use the inflated base price to upsell a subscription, and use vague content promises to inflate ultimate editions to make the base price look better. It all seems a bit dangerous & disconnected from the community. pic.twitter.com/wPmwDM846z
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 26, 2024
Next, he shared, “I think a game should be priced accordingly with its quality, breadth & depth. I’m not against higher prices, but this arbitrary uniformity just doesn’t make sense to me. It feels so unserious.”
He then declared, “Almost all games should cost more at a base level because the cost of making them (inflation, for one) is outpacing pricing trends. But I don’t think we’ll get there with DLC promises so much as quality & communication.”
“Everyone’s just waiting for GTA6 to do it lol,” he concluded.
Almost all games should cost more at a base level because the cost of making them (inflation, for one) is outpacing pricing trends. But I don’t think we’ll get there with DLC promises so much as quality & communication. Everyone’s just waiting for GTA6 to do it lol.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 26, 2024
In a separate thread, Douse would attempt to clear up confusion about these posts. He wrote, “Various people who are not very astute failed to understand that my point was perhaps $70-$80 games that function properly and have the content to back it up are better than buggy jank slop repacked with shite skins for $120. The latter exists because the former doesn’t.”
Various people who are not very astute failed to understand that my point was perhaps $70-$80 games that function properly and have the content to back it up are better than buggy jank slop repacked with shite skins for $120. The latter exists because the former doesn’t.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
He continued, “A brief economics lesson: bulk of development cost is salaries. If a company is sensible, they afford inflation increases to developers. This rises costs over time – last 2 yrs astronomically. Increases risk. What do most AAA do? Reduce risk. How? Play it safe. Follow trends.”
“This leads people to look at AI and automation as a beacon of hope for a cost problem when really the problem is the impossible-to-solve lack of foresight about what anyone should be making,” Douse elaborated. “There are outliers. None of the risk-averse strategies typically make *better* games.”
This leads people to look at AI and automation as a beacon of hope for a cost problem when really the problem is the impossible-to-solve lack of foresight about what anyone should be making. There are outliers. None of the risk-averse strategies typically make *better* games.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
He then declared, “If you want really engaging, super polished premium experiences, you won’t *because it is economically impossible save for a few token outliers* get them from risk-averse strategies coping with inflation.”
“I want good games. I get mad at bad games. I also price games (I priced both DOS2 and BG3 below their value because I care about people’s cost of living and had faith in our recoup) CE far below. Again, I had faith. So I’m not the ‘suit’ ripping people off, thx RPS!”
I want good games. I get mad at bad games. I also price games (I priced both DOS2 and BG3 below their value because I care about people’s cost of living and had faith in our recoup) CE far below. Again, I had faith. So I’m not the “suit” ripping people off, thx RPS!
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
When asked for clarification about what he was referring to as “buggy jank slop,” Douse made it clear he was not referring to Star Wars Outlaws, but told That Park Place that he was referring to “the many games that release underbaked and buggy in spite of big tacked on DLC promises at a higher premium.
A screenshot from Star Wars Outlaws (2024), Ubisoft
This answer was unsurprising give Douse claimed he loved Star Wars Outlaws, He posted, “Sorry everyone, but after 10 hours of Outlaws on the plane I’ve decided I don’t like it. I actually love it.”
“It’s the best AAA game I’ve played in years. I’ve not been able to stick with many, but this gives me a Splinter Cell science fiction kick I just can’t uh… kick.”
Sorry everyone, but after 10 hours of Outlaws on the plane I’ve decided I don’t like it. I actually love it. It’s the best AAA game I’ve played in years. I’ve not been able to stick with many, but this gives me a Splinter Cell science fiction kick I just can’t uh… kick. pic.twitter.com/BZcFj9I3He
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
However, he then added, “I’m playing on the OneXPlayer Mini which has the latest AMD 780m chip (8800u I believe), which is a good thing because it absolutely won’t run on anything less due to the baked in RayTracing. But I fiddled around and made it work because I am a maniac.”
He added, “For future reference, when I say ‘it’ I mean specifically this PC version of the game and not some port or patch that happens in 10 months or whatever so you can’t bully me later with this.”
For future reference, when I say “it” I mean specifically this PC version of the game and not some port or patch that happens in 10 months or whatever so you can’t bully me later with this.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
He later added that the game “feels more to me like Hitman Absolution or Splinter Cell conviction. She even has the head shot tag mechanic thing.”
I felt at though especially at the start it risked almost doing that, but now it feels more to me like Hitman Absolution or Splinter Cell conviction. She even has the head shot tag mechanic thing.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 29, 2024
READ: ‘Star Wars Outlaws’ Creative Director Name Drops ‘Ghost Of Tsushima’ As His Biggest Reference
While Douse indicated he loved the game, he previously shared criticism of the game, “I am really enjoying Outlaws. I love the laser punk shooting (Star Trek). I love the skulking around a-la Splinter Cell Conviction or Hitman Absolution (yes I know, I know). I love the world building and level of detail (Ubisoft’s biggest strengths). Agree with all the criticism.”
“Let’s say I enjoy it like a really good kebab. It has everything I want. I know it’s a kebab, but I want a kebab. I want a Star Wars kebab and it is a Star Wars kebab,” he explained. “One of those proper German ones that make you go oh, neat.”
Let’s say I enjoy it like a really good kebab. It has everything I want. I know it’s a kebab, but I want a kebab. I want a Star Wars kebab and it is a Star Wars kebab. One of those proper German ones that make you go oh, neat.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 28, 2024
He also added, “To its credit also, it has the best Ubi UI since… ever. Doesn’t really handhold that much for a AAA game (not nearly as much as an AC game) and while I don’t think it was positioned as a stealth game, once you figure out that it largely is (at least so far) it’s neat.”
To its credit also, it has the best Ubi UI since… ever. Doesn’t really handhold that much for a AAA game (not nearly as much as an AC game) and while I don’t think it was positioned as a stealth game, once you figure out that it largely is (at least so far) it’s neat.
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 28, 2024
However, it’s unclear how serious Douse is. When one person asked, “Why skewer a kebab, you know?”, Douse responded, “That’s it, you get it.”
That’s it, you get it
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) August 28, 2024
What do you make of Douse’s comments?
NEXT: Star Wars Outlaws Subreddit Reportedly Bans Users For Criticizing Ubisoft’s Game
