I've notice that I'm getting so many free games from programs like Games with Gold, PlayStation Plus, and EA's Vault, that I have a very large backlog.  The result of this is I'm buying fewer new games. So it might be hurting developers.

On the other hand, without such programs I would have never played Crackdown and been excieted for Crackdown 3 coming out later this year.  So it makes me more likely to buy that game.

I still bought Witcher 3, eventhough I never really played the free version of Witcher 2 (I wasn't that crazy about it.)

So I'm just wondering, do we have any numbers to how these bonus game programs have been affecting sales?

PS It is nice to have more options when people come over and want to play 'something' but I do feel a bit overwhelemed with non played games.

Sales of most games fall off a cliff after a good amount of time has passed. Essentially, if someone hasn't bought your game after it's been on the market for a year or more then they probably have no intention of buying it at all. So how do you potentially increase your consumer base for the series while still generating revenue? You let Sony or Microsoft pay you to give your game away. Sure, a lot of those people won't buy your next game but some of them will. Some of them will become fans of your franchise and might even buy further installments on Day One.

i'll only speak for myself in saying i spend less money than i used to even when you include the sub to ps+.

however, that makes me happy. xD

it only hurts indie devolopers

It is a bit of a mixed bag. I don't think they have any effect on the major games as there sales are all heavily front loaded by enthusiastic buyers that aren't going to wait months or years for them to become available for "free" on their paid subscriptions.

HOWEVER, I do find I no longer buy random games that look mildly interesting. I either buy the major releases I am interested in or I give various games with gold games a play. e.g. this month when I am bored with Dirt Rally I play DG2 rather than looking to buy something else.

This. Especially the bolded part. Also, it's not like those games are brand new AAA titles. 

Nope, not hurting. Those games aren't free, or are you not paying for your subscriptions while still getting games somehow? That money goes to the devs. There's always the chance that someone makes less money than they would have made if the games weren't available in that subscription, but I doubt devs would participate in those subscriptions if it didn't have potential to increase revenue directly or indirectly.

Nah, it's just silly.  You get to use the game and you didn't go out, select it, and buy it.  Sure the devs might get some money, but is it worth it?  Would be nice to see some numbers and how it helps/hurts sales. 

Might be a good thing for a franchise as more people get exposed to the game. 

nope. it does really matter. it cancels out. The games don't come onto the services till sales have all but dried up completely.

Imagine 20M ppl spend $50/yr on PS+. That's $1B right there. Now if Sony decided to give a pub $5M for having their game be in PS+ and does that for 24 games a year thats just $120M. And this is only for games that arent published by Sony.

The pubs will be happy cause not only do they get $5M that they would have not got, but they also get free exposure for their game or other games from their company. Win win.

Its all about perspective. Somone had an online service for years that you paid for not much else but online gaming. Someone had a service that your membership meant that u get discounts and games. and now online gaming has be tacked onto that. 

It's easy to say nothing is free, and that's true. But it can't be denied that there is a lot of value in that spent $50/yr.