For Origin's subscription service, should we focus on adding more recent AAA titles or a wider variety of indie games?

Introduction

For Origin's subscription service, we're facing a critical decision: should we prioritize adding more recent AAA titles or expand our catalog with a wider variety of indie games? This trade-off will significantly impact our user acquisition, retention, and overall platform strategy. I'll analyze this decision through the lens of user value, business impact, and long-term sustainability.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming Origin is a game distribution platform similar to Steam or Epic Games Store. Is this correct, and are we primarily focused on PC gaming or do we have console offerings as well?

Why it matters: Impacts our target audience and technical considerations Expected answer: PC-focused with some console offerings Impact on approach: Would influence our game selection strategy and platform development priorities

• Business Context: Based on our current revenue model, I'm thinking subscription is a relatively new offering for us. How does it fit into our overall business strategy, and what percentage of our revenue does it currently represent?

Why it matters: Helps prioritize this decision against other business objectives Expected answer: Growing focus, currently 15-20% of revenue with plans to expand Impact on approach: Would justify more aggressive growth strategies if it's a key strategic pillar

• User Impact: Looking at our user segments, I'm curious about the split between casual and hardcore gamers in our current subscriber base. Do we have data on this?

Why it matters: Different user segments may have varying preferences for AAA vs. indie titles Expected answer: 60% casual, 40% hardcore Impact on approach: Would influence our game selection to balance appeal across segments

• Technical: Considering the difference in file sizes between AAA and indie games, I'm wondering about our current infrastructure capacity. Do we have any constraints in terms of storage or bandwidth that might impact this decision?

Why it matters: Could limit our ability to add numerous large AAA titles Expected answer: Some constraints, but manageable with planning Impact on approach: Might favor a mix of AAA and indie to balance technical load

• Resource: Thinking about our content acquisition team, I'm curious about our current relationships with AAA publishers versus indie developers. How does our negotiating power differ between these two groups?

Why it matters: Affects our ability to secure attractive titles in each category Expected answer: Strong relationships with major publishers, growing network of indie developers Impact on approach: Could leverage existing relationships while strategically expanding in areas of opportunity