Microsoft, with its heavy promotion of the Xbox Game Pass over the past few years, has unintentionally stoked concerns among players. Many have begun to wonder if, in the foreseeable future, gamers would be funneled into purchasing a subscription to access their favorite games. In a revealing interview with Game Watch during Phil Spencer’s visit to Japan, these concerns were squarely addressed in an interview with Game Watch (via Insider Gaming).
Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, while attending the Tokyo Game Show and networking with acclaimed Japanese game developers like Hideo Kojima, articulated that the philosophy of the Xbox Game Pass was fundamentally about a simple goal: amplifying choice, not constraining it. He declared, “No. That’s not it. What we want to offer is choice.”
Expounding on this, Spencer then voiced his aspiration for the Xbox community to burgeon across platforms, be it PC, Xbox consoles, or even the cloud. Reiterating his stance, Spencer confirmed, “I have no intention of doing anything that would hinder that.”
Notably, the rumors making rounds about a substantial price escalation for the Game Pass subscription were clarified. Although the recent price adjustment saw a slight price increment of $1 for the standard and $2 for the Ultimate Game Pass, Spencer indicated future price hikes were inevitable but would always be rooted in offering tangible value to subscribers.
While in Japan, Spencer also took the opportunity to share his admiration for the Japanese gaming community, noting their distinct high level of commitment. Despite Xbox’s relatively modest presence as a gaming console in Japan, he was heartened by the cohesive and quality-driven community it has fostered there.
While the Xbox Game Pass’s evolution, featuring cloud gaming, day-one launches of first-party exclusives, and several enticing deals has been monumental, Microsoft remains steadfast in its mission. The company envisions expanding the Game Pass’ reach, with an even broader spectrum of devices becoming compatible, thus enlarging the potential subscriber pool.
Although exclusive games on the Game Pass seem unlikely, this doesn’t exclude the possibility of offering Early Access to subscribers as an incentive. This could mean certain titles might be accessible to them a week or so ahead of the general public, potentially amplifying subscription numbers.
The journey of the gaming industry has seen its fair share of cyclical patterns. From the days when games simply hit the storeshelves and one could purchase them, to the era of console exclusives, and even to the recent trend where games delay their releases to promote pricier versions with early access. All these underline the dynamic nature of the industry.
As the future of Xbox Game Pass unfurls, one thing remains clear. Microsoft is balancing a fine line, striving to maximize the service’s profitability while preserving the goodwill of their user base. After all, the heart of Xbox’s success lies in the thriving community of players, and ensuring they have uninhibited access to games.
Speaking of, Spencer recently expressed his concerns about the current trajectory of AAA games in a leaked email from 2020. This is in line with reports about the ballooning budgets of AAA titles from earlier this year. As Microsoft prepares to release new variants of the Xbox Series S/X and a new controller next year, we’re curious about how it will handle the admitted dearth of first-party titles on the Xbox platform.
