Gaming expert Michael Pachter anticipates that the Xbox Game Pass will attract more than 200 million subscribers within the next 10 years. Pachter also sheds light on a common misconception about the current number of Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
The direction of Xbox has appeared somewhat uncertain following Microsoft's unveiling of a new multi-platform strategy, where some of the platform's prominent games are slated for release on rival platforms. While titles like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush have led this charge, rumors suggest that numerous other Xbox games will follow suit. Despite fans' surprise and occasional apprehension over this shift, Xbox remains dedicated to producing hardware and nurturing its own ecosystem.
Pachter is optimistic about Xbox's future, particularly its Game Pass subscription service. In a recent episode of Pachter Factor on YouTube, he boldly predicts that Game Pass will attract 200 million subscribers in the next decade, attributing this projection to Xbox's unwavering commitment to its success. Additionally, he refutes previous assertions that Xbox includes Gold members (now known as Game Pass Core) as Game Pass subscribers, emphasizing that the total Game Pass subscriber count excludes Gold/Core individuals.
Forecaster Envisions 200 Million Game Pass Subscribers by 2032
In 2023, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer disclosed that Game Pass incurs an annual cost exceeding $1 billion to sustain, a significant portion of which supports third-party studios participating in the service. Despite the seemingly hefty price tag, Microsoft firmly believes in the value of this investment.
It is highly probable that Game Pass will remain a cornerstone of Xbox's offerings, with first-party Xbox studios such as Bethesda, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, 343 Industries, The Coalition, and more slated to release their games directly on the service. In current news, Game Pass' April lineup includes third-party titles like Ark: Survival Ascended, F1 23, and LEGO 2K Drive.
Xbox's future transcends Game Pass, with recent rumors hinting at the brand's development of a handheld device as part of its next-gen hardware lineup. Spencer recently outlined the concept of an on-the-go Xbox device that promises users the complete Xbox experience, dashboard included, all in a compact form factor.