Xbox Game Pass offers an appealing option for gamers looking to explore a wide range of titles for a single monthly price. However, it may also lead to significant declines in premium sales for game developers and publishers. This perspective comes from an industry expert who has mixed feelings about the impact of Xbox Game Pass and similar subscription models
Xbox has acknowledged its struggles in the console market, as its sales continue to lag behind the PlayStation 5, its main rival. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch has seen remarkable success, even outpacing the PS2 in total sales in the United States over its lifetime.
Christopher Dring, a video game business journalist, shared his insights on Install Base regarding the impact of Xbox Game Pass on the gaming industry. He highlighted how the availability of games on this service can significantly affect sales figures for game developers. According to Dring, there’s a common belief that up to 80% of a game’s anticipated premium sales might be lost when it’s offered through Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass Influence Has Pros and Cons
Dring pointed out that games available on various platforms can experience increased sales, as a title performing well on Xbox Game Pass may boost its sales on PlayStation. He mentioned that gamers are likely to explore titles through the service that they might not have considered otherwise, since there’s no additional cost involved
The topic certainly stirs debate, but Dring’s perspective has merit. Microsoft has acknowledged that Xbox Game Pass can impact traditional game sales. Despite this, the service has recently experienced a slowdown in new subscriber growth, particularly noticeable by the end of 2023.
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