I don't see how a video game sub plan would work. How would Nintendo divvy it out? The more downloads the more money a dev earns? What if hardly anyone buy NX, but 30 games come out at launch? Is Nintendo going to guarantee a minimum pay out?
Part of the benefit of having physical goods is pipeline orders. This goes for any physical good.
I'm making up numbers..... if there are 10,000 walmarts, 10,000 Gamestops and 5,000 Best Buys. That's 25,000 stores right off the bat. Even if you ignore all other brick and mortar stores, online stores, wholesalers etc....., if 25,000 stores each order 5 copies to fill that space on the rack, that's right away 125,000 copes sold just to satisfy the first batch of inventory.
How is a sub plan going to match something like that?
Someone will bring up Netflix, but most of the movies and shows have already had their box office run. The tv show might be on season 3 on network tv, but Netflix now gets season 1. Again, the've made their money. Netflix is extra money.
And the system comes with the sub plan? I don't see it. OK, most people rent their cable box as a monthly fee, but the key difference is that the media companies who offer the media have their own stores to handle the admin of taking in and returning boxes.
I don't see Best Buy or Walmart wanting to handle subscription boxes.