Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Spend More on Gaming

Game Pass is great value for subscribers, and it's making developers more money too. Microsoft has revealed information on spending habits and how Game Pass encourages people to play more games, try other genres, and play longer than those not subscribed.

Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Spend More on Gaming cover

Sarah Bond, Corporate Vice President of Gaming Ecosystem at Microsoft, has revealed some intriguing Xbox statistics:

On average, according to Bond, Game Pass subscribers spend 20% more time playing games, play 30% more games, play 40% more genres and, crucially, spend about 20% more on gaming overall.

Game Pass analytics are rarely as detailed as this, with subscriber count being the only consistent statistic (18 million as of January 2021). Particularly interesting is that 20% of members spend more on gaming. 

How Do Subscribers Spend More?

Xbox is encouraging long-term play. So, more players end up spending money on add-ons, DLC and buying games outright. Codemasters, Developers of the Dirt racing games, say they see the subscription service “as a way of extending the life of our games”. No More Robot’s founder, Mike Rose, echoes Codemaster, saying they “end up getting a ton of players on Game Pass, and we sell a ton as well”.

There were concerns from developers that the service’s payment model wouldn’t be sustainable for all game types. However, more recently, Phil Spencer revealed that Xbox currently pays developers “all over the place”. This means some ask for money while still working on a game, some approach Xbox with a finished game and a figure in mind, and some get paid for usage.

Unlike other entertainment subscription services, Game Pass seems to be working for the consumer and creator alike.

What do you about that Game Pass subscribers spend more time playing games because of the service? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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