Xbox Game Pass is often hailed as one of the best deals in gaming, but not everyone is sold. Some players and developers remain skeptical, questioning whether a subscription model is truly viable in the long run.
Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, knows there’s a segment of gamers reluctant to embrace the Game Pass for a variety of reasons. He recently addressed the criticism surrounding the model and spoke about the platform’s role in the industry—and its significance for the brand’s future.
Game Pass Isn’t for Everyone
Game Pass offers access to hundreds of titles at a low monthly price. However, some players believe subscription models turn games into disposable content, stripping them of their value. Others simply don’t have the time to play enough games to justify the fee.
Developers have also raised concerns about how the model might affect long-term profitability, especially for games that don’t fit well within the subscription format.
Acknowledging all these reservations, Spencer admitted that service isn’t a perfect fit for everyone. People have different play styles and consumption habits, he noted, and this is simply another option.
“I look at Game Pass as a healthy option for certain people. It’s not for everyone. 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. But I want you to have the choice. So we remain focused on ensuring that everything that’s on platform is also available to buy. We’re making those games available to buy in more places.”
A Key Part of Xbox’s Future
Spencer also stressed that Game Pass is one of the most important channels for Xbox to reach new players. This is especially important because Microsoft is focused on expanding the Xbox ecosystem as broadly as possible. In fact, the company considers it a central part of the brand’s long-term strategy.
Back in 2023, Spencer warned that Xbox and Microsoft might exit the gaming industry altogether if the service doesn’t grow enough by 2027. The company is particularly focused on expanding Game Pass on PC and through Cloud Gaming, its cloud-based platform.
Internally, there’s hope it could exceedover 100 million users by the 2029–2030 fiscal year, though Spencer insists they need meaningful growth in both PC and cloud gaming to achieve that.