Since October, Microsoft has carried out a major update to the subscription. This is not just a cosmetic improvement, but a complete restructuring. The company took into account the interests of the players, so new games in the catalog are only the beginning, and the consequences of the changes will be long-term.
Since the launch of the service in 2017, the corporation's goal has remained the same — to offer players maximum value and a huge selection of games. The gradual expansion of the library has led to record popularity of the subscription.
According to The Game Business, Game Pass revenues in the US have been steadily growing from March to July. Overall, spending on game subscriptions for the first seven months of the year increased by 19%. Circana recorded that in July alone, revenue growth was 21% compared to last year.
The Game Business journalists note: Microsoft decided to update Game Pass and its budget versions, as users spend more time in the already available games of the service than in new releases.
The Future of Video Games report confirms that access to games remains the main incentive for subscription. Calculations show that the average Game Pass Ultimate user gets access to projects worth a total of $10,000 per year, while buying them separately would cost at least 550.
But a rich catalog and mandatory subscriptions from competitors like PS Plus or Switch Online did not justify the price increase. Experts believe that maintaining affordable rates along with the benefits — cloud gaming, bonuses, and new versions of Xbox Game Pass Essential and Premium — will be the main factor in Microsoft's success.