Xbox’s Phil Spencer Admits Game Pass Isn’ For Everybody

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Summary

  • Xbox Game Pass is suitable for avid gamers who play many games, not for those who play a couple of games a year.
  • Phil Spencer acknowledged that Game Pass is aimed at providing an additional choice for gamers, not the sole option.
  • Microsoft’s focus is on increasing gameplay hours while ensuring games on Game Pass are still available for purchase.

Although Microsoft has actively marketed its Game Pass across both Xbox and PC platforms, not all individuals have signed up for this service, or are enthusiastic about it, in spite of the attractive benefits it presents.

Phil Spencer, who oversees the Xbox division, acknowledges that Game Pass may not appeal to everyone.

Phil Spencer Admits Xbox Game Pass Is More Suited To People Who Play A Lot Of Games

In a recent conversation with Variety, Phil Spencer discussed his perspective on Game Pass’ current impact within the broader Xbox enterprise.

Spencer explained, “I’ll begin by discussing the number of individuals engaging in gaming, and I view Game Pass as simply another choice for those interested in playing. We offer several models for gamers, ranging from free-to-play to purchasing games at a discounted rate. Game Pass is one of these options. My objective with Game Pass is to ensure that the time spent playing by users increases, that new players recognize this as a means to cultivate their game collection, and we maintain our focus on this goal. Our primary areas of growth currently are PC and Cloud gaming, which makes sense because consoles, overall, are a stable business but not a rapidly expanding segment in gaming. We’re experiencing strong growth in both PC and Cloud, in terms of users and hours played. Console remains a thriving part of Game Pass, but it’s not essential for Game Pass to be the only way people play. If every Game Pass subscriber decided to buy their games instead, that would also benefit our business.

In simpler terms, Phil Spencer sees Game Pass as a suitable choice for specific individuals, not everyone. If you only play one or two games per year, it might be more sensible for you to buy those individual games rather than subscribing to Game Pass. However, he emphasizes that the choice should always be yours. All games available on Game Pass can also be purchased separately. They are making these games accessible for purchase in various locations. The overall playtime of Xbox users playing their games is increasing significantly, and this growth is what Spencer considers as a sign of success. Game Pass has played an important role in this growth, but Spencer doesn’t solely focus on Game Pass; instead, he sees it as part of the larger strategy for Xbox to attract new players.

It’s refreshing to observe Spencer being open about the benefits of the subscription service, and I share his viewpoint. If you’re not particularly interested in playing the latest games or only purchase 1-3 games per year, it might be unnecessary spending on Game Pass for you. However, if you’re a regular gamer, this service could be a blessing, potentially saving you hundreds – if not thousands – of dollars annually.

Regarding Xbox Game Pass, remember that the April Wave 2 launch is underway now, bringing fresh games into the mix, with a highly-anticipated Role Playing Game (RPG) among them as one of the main attractions.

Additionally, there’s an old-school game once taken off the subscription platform, but it’s now back, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

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2025-04-18 04:09