The current conversation around the gaming world is squarely focused on the idea of loot boxes and how they will be perceived going forward. Speaking at the Credit Suisse 21st Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference today, Karl Slatoff – the President of Take-Two Interactive – offered his opinion, and also gave his own forecast on the gaming landscape.
When it comes to loot crates and their place in the gaming world, the conversation around them rages. Some view of them as a gambling device, while others view them as simply tools to allow players to pay-to-win. When it comes to the gambling aspect, Slatoff disagrees with the notion, saying (via GamesIndustry.biz) “The whole gambling regulator thing, we don’t view that sort of thing as gambling.”
He went on to say that the main focus is always on “content”, and delivering the most to the consumer. “It’s about overdelivering on content and making sure you’re focused on engagement. That has been our strategy and where we’re focused, and as long as you keep your eye on that ball, you’re going to be OK. The consumer’s going to be really happy with what they get.”
Speaking to the ever growing digital landscape of gaming, Slatoff gave his own prediction for where the gaming world will be in the next decade or so, and it’s a totally digital world. “I think over the long-term, it will be 100% [digital],” Slatoff said. “I just can’t predict whether that’s five years, 10 years, or 20 years. It’s probably less than 20 and maybe more than five, but I think it ultimately gets there. That’s the zeitgeist. Things are moving in that direction.”
Obviously, the idea that gaming will be 100% digital isn’t that crazy, but the thought that it might occur in as little as 5 or 10 years might take some people by surprise. Slatoff has an explanation for why things are moving so quickly. “Why I think it’s a little quicker than people imagined is honestly, Sony and Microsoft have done a really nice job with their services. You’ve got more people on Xbox Live, more people on PSN, and it helps. The friction is going away at a quicker rate because these platforms have been really well developed, and the consumers love it.”
Only time will tell whether or not Slatoff is right, but it’s clear that the gaming world is shifting considerably, and at this rate, who knows what it will look like in a couple of years?
[Source: GamesIndustry.biz]
