It’s no secret that Microsoft has put in a lot of effort to build up its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. From increasing the number of Day One releases to constantly keeping the rest of the library fresh, Game Pass has become a priority for a company determined to make everything an Xbox. That said, not everyone is on board with the service and the company knows that.
In a lengthy interview with Variety, Xbox boss Phil Spencer was asked about the state of Xbox Game Pass and how he and Microsoft as a company are viewing the business. Spencer said that he’s “always thought about Game Pass as just another option for somebody who wants to play” and that he is doing what he can that make sure the hours that people are playing increases. However, Spencer added that there are some people who should just buy their video games instead.
“It’s not for everybody,” Spencer said. “If you play one or two games a year, Game Pass probably isn’t the right business model for you, you should just buy those two games, and that would make total sense.”
Spencer noted that he wants players to have the choice of how they consume and acquire games. It’s why, as he says, the company is “focused” on making sure that every game playable on Game Pass is also available to buy.
“We’re making those games available to buy in more places,” he said. “And I look at the overall hours of people who are playing on Xbox, playing our games, and that’s a number that continues to grow fairly substantially, and that’s really the metric I think about for success.
“And Game Pass has been an important part of that, but I don’t try to solve for Game Pass specifically on its own. It’s kind of part of the equation for Xbox finding new players.”
What do you think of Phil Spencer saying that he understands that Xbox Game Pass isn’t for everybody? Let us know down below, and join the discussion in the official Insider Gaming forums.
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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