One of the key features that Microsoft is banking on from their game division going forward is the Game Pass subscription service. It’s really one of the first major subscription services to be pushed hard by a platform holder, and it’s hard to say if it’s paying off or not for the company. But one thing it is apparently doing is opening the door for players to be consuming even more games.
ID@Xbox Lead Agostino Simonetta shared some data from Game Pass with GamesIndustry. It seems those subscribed to the service are playing roughly 40% more games than average, but it’s not limited to just the games in rotation, they are actually going out to the store and buying games that are both on the service and not on it. They are branching out, too, as 91% of subscribers said they tried a title they wouldn’t have without Game Pass.
“People that join the subscription are way more engaged,” said Simonetta. “Well, they have a lot of free games to play — but actually they’re way more engaged outside the subscription. They go out to stores and buy more games than they did before they joined.”
The Game Pass subscription has become a big value for consumers, bringing a lot of games for a pretty low price. It seems to be something that Microsoft has in mind for long term plan for their gaming division. What it’ll look like next gen or years down the road remains to be seen, but for now, it seems to be a big boon for those subscribing.