Google Stadia creative director Alex Hutchinson argued that video game studios should charge royalties from streamers. While they can, they likely won’t.
Google Stadia is making a buzz for once, but not because of its great value or superb service. Their creative director, Alex Hutchinson, is slamming the streaming industry right now.
Streamers should buy a license, Alex Hutchinson rants
Hutchinson is a veteran in the industry, and he recently had his Montreal studio Typhoon acquired by Google. It’s now part of Google’s Stadia division, releasing its first game, Journey to the Savage Planet.
The real truth is the streamers should be paying the developers and publishers of the games they stream. They should be buying a license like any real business and paying for the content they use.
— Alex Hutchinson (@BangBangClick) October 22, 2020
Alex Hutchinson was a creative lead among many AAA games across different companies. These games include Assassin’s Creed III, Sims 2, and Far Cry 4.
Of all the hills to die on, the creative director chose an area that both suits and the internet agreed on. Hutchinson criticized content creators, arguing they should pay devs and publishers royalties.
“Streamers worried about getting their content pulled because they used music they didn’t pay for should be more worried by the fact that they’re streaming games they didn’t pay for as well. It’s all gone as soon as publishers decide to enforce it,” says Hutchinson.
“The real truth is the streamers should be paying the developers and publishers of the games they stream. They should be buying a license like any real business and paying for the content they use.”
The internet slams Hutchinson rant
The Google Stadia creative director received a ton of arguments on his Twitter account. A majority of this comes as flak, and for a reason. Streamers and companies have a symbiotic relationship when it comes to video games.
Game developers have the right to DMCA strike anyone streaming/uploading content of their game, they always have. The reason they don't is because its a win-win situation where the game gets free promo, and streamer makes a living from it. This dude really works at Google Stadia? https://t.co/9N1lt13v63
— Froste 💯 (@Froste) October 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/Fwiz/status/1319378835125628928
Unlike music, TV shows, or movies, the point of video games is interactivity. Streamers play video games to earn money, but they also entice players to buy the game. In turn, they help devs and publishers make their games bigger.
One of the most prominent examples for this is Among Us, a relatively new game from 2018. Due to COVID-19 and streamers, the game received acclaim across the internet. It’s now one of the biggest games of 2020 and a smash-hit too.
The same goes for Fall Guys, Phasmophobia, and many other titles. Twitter users were quick to call him out on his opinion too. Many points that Stadia itself pays gamers to stream titles on the platform for better marketing.
So far, Google distanced itself from Hutchinson. They note how “The recent tweets by Alex Hutchinson, creative director at the Montreal Studio of Stadia Games and Entertainment, do not reflect those of Stadia, YouTube or Google.”
Someone got an email. pic.twitter.com/cvE8U8vZuq
— Ron Amadeo (@RonAmadeo) October 22, 2020
Alex likely received a scathing email from Google Stadia, too, as he now has an “All opinions my own” disclaimer on his Twitter. While it’s hard to deny that game devs do have the right to their copyright, they don’t do it due to the perceived benefits.
Featured image courtesy of Stadia/Youtube Screenshot