It’s no secret that Microsoft has spent and is still spending millions on the Game Pass. As it turns out, it’s all a wash.
According to the numbers revealed by Microsoft to the Administrative Council for Economic Defense of Brazil (CADE) (thanks, TweakTown), the Game Pass generated $2.9 billion from its consoles alone last year, which is a significant chunk of the $16.28 billion that Xbox games made in the same period. In addition to this, Microsoft showed that the subscriber numbers for the Game Pass had gone from 15 million to 18 million between August last year and March.
When you consider that the number doesn’t include the Game Pass earnings on the PC, it’s no wonder Microsoft is so willing to throw money at the service whenever it can.
Microsoft revealed to Brazilian regulators how much Game Pass made in 2021 on consoles.
According to Microsoft, Game Pass made $2.9 billion on consoles last year.
The service represented 30-40% share of the market.https://t.co/EqklK3UuaV
— Derek Strickland (@DeekeTweak) October 9, 2022
Ultimately, the Game Pass is a numbers game; the more noteworthy games it has, the more subscribers it will enjoy. By acquiring ZeniMax Media last year, Microsoft added dozens of AAA titles to its stable. The effects of this acquisition will continue to grow as Starfield, The Elder Scrolls 6, and Fallout 5, among others, all make their way to the Xbox Series S/X and the Game Pass in the next few years.
Speaking of acquisitions, buying Activision Blizzard gives Microsoft more properties that it probably knows what to do with – an embarrassment of riches that will pad the Game Pass’ numbers in the years to come.
The potential revenue growth from the Activision Blizzard purchase would explain why the tech giant is willing to jump through several hoops to buy the controversial publisher. After making the buyout known earlier this year, Microsoft is waiting on approval from regulators around the globe. At the moment, only the CADE and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Competition have given the merger the green light.
