Xbox Game Pass is having its most insane quarter ever — with more games than ever, and more variety than ever — but will gamers notice?

by

It seems as though I’m not writing about Xbox Game Pass for the first time, yet this occasion carries a unique sense of appreciation.

During the last winter, I discussed how Xbox was experiencing significant positive momentum as it approached the holiday season. For the first time, Call of Duty debuted on Xbox Game Pass, and home-grown exclusives like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle began to receive excellent critical reviews, boosting the brand’s reputation.

Looking back, I observed that by 2025, Xbox had a solid lineup ready to make a strong impact. Titles like Avowed, DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and more were scheduled for release that year. Now, in Spring 2025, it seems as if the ambitious vision that Xbox carefully crafted has truly blossomed into reality.

Based on Xbox chief Phil Spencer’s recent remarks, it seems possible that there could be a limitation to the Xbox Game Pass service, even though it offers an abundance of content.

One approach to understanding Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass strategy could be by examining the kind of content they are promoting, and, more debatably, as they extend their reach to other systems such as PlayStation seems increasingly unavoidable.

Something for everyone, everywhere, at all times

One approach I’ve been striving for is breaking free from the biased perspectives that algorithms present to us, particularly when evaluating public opinion. It’s no surprise that Xbox frequently becomes the target of criticism, ranging from casual jokes to extreme hostility from platform enthusiasts – but it’s not always the vocal minority that dictates the fate of a product or service. If you based your assumptions solely on critic reviews of the Minecraft movie, you wouldn’t expect it to be potentially earning a billion dollars at the box office.

Currently, Xbox Game Pass boasts around 34 million subscribers, give or take. If the service hasn’t shrunk, this is the number we’re working with. The Information previously suggested Microsoft aims to reach 100 million subscribers by 2030, a goal that seems challenging in my opinion, but it’s not for lack of effort on their part.

Over the past month, there’s been an overwhelming abundance of content, features, and benefits on Xbox Game Pass unlike any other time before. Coming soon are DOOM: The Dark Ages and Towerborne. We’ve also got critically acclaimed third-party games like Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince that have recently been released. It was no secret that Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion would join the mix, along with classics such as Diablo 3 and Grand Theft Auto V. For players of free-to-play games like Overwatch 2 and Heroes of the Storm, there are fresh perks available now. And for those who prefer buy-to-own games, Xbox Cloud Gaming has just extended its reach to LG smart TVs.

It’s clear as day how much worth there is in this service, given the abundance of content and fresh features it’s constantly providing. Even Xbox skeptics, who are usually critical of Xbox, have been singing its praises lately. The re-release of Oblivion appears to have sparked a wave of nostalgia that has particularly influenced this positive shift in opinion.

If Microsoft aims to reach 100 million subscribers for Xbox Game Pass, the growing groundswell of public enthusiasm for the service might just provide the boost it needs to break through popular culture and cement its place in the mainstream market.

I may have been overly critical of Microsoft for releasing Oblivion alongside games like Towerborne and Clair Obscur prematurely last week. Upon reflection, my comments might have been unduly severe, and I may have been focusing too much on my own perspective.

It’s clear that there will be significant similarities among popular titles such as Oblivion, Clair Obscur, and DOOM, but they each possess unique characteristics beyond their genres. For instance, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, being a turn-based game, is particularly suited for cloud gaming due to its lower performance demands compared to the fast-paced nature of DOOM. Similarly, Towerborne’s engaging side-scrolling combat with a fixed camera angle also makes it a strong candidate for cloud gaming and may even work well on lower-power PC gaming handheld devices.

In my previous statement, when I mentioned “echo chambers,” it’s also a metaphor for the choices we often make within our own playstyles. Xbox Game Pass isn‘t just about variety in genres; it’s also about expanding the types of gaming experiences (modalities). For now, conversations about Xbox Game Pass mainly center around the content they offer.

The Oblivion remaster leak created some initial uncertainty, but its unexpected high quality put an end to any negative assumptions, even sparking more conversations about Xbox Game Pass in the process. With Nintendo considering raising the price of premium games to $80, it’s reasonable to assume that Game Pass will become a more appealing choice for those seeking value.

Can Xbox Game Pass really hit a 100 million subscribers by 2030?

A significant challenge in the video game sector is discovering a substantial number of brand-new players. While industries like social media and streaming services such as Netflix have been expanding more rapidly than gaming overall, this leaves platform owners seeking innovative methods to foster growth. In response, companies like Microsoft and PlayStation have broadened their horizons by venturing beyond their console environments to focus on the PC market.

Microsoft is facing a challenging situation due to an overabundance of content being generated currently. In terms of the Xbox Series X|S, supply seems limited worldwide, leading to intense competition if one wants to get their hands on it. I frequently receive messages from various regions inquiring about stock levels. As we speak, the Xbox Series X is available at Amazon UK, but the disc-version appears sold out at Amazon US, with resellers and used options being the only alternatives.

Microsoft, due to the bottleneck with this particular stock, has chosen to explore new avenues to seek users more assertively than PlayStation up until now. However, it’s anticipated that they will debut consoles resembling the Switch in their upcoming generation hardware lineup, much like PlayStation. Moreover, both companies are concurrently building cloud gaming platforms as well.

In a time when Xbox games are becoming less unique, could Xbox Game Pass transform into the ultimate uniqueness itself? As Nintendo strives to increase game prices up to $80, can Xbox Game Pass stand out as a compelling value proposition? Is the solution an abundance of nostalgic remastered games like Shadow drops or even more content?

In a recent interview, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, mentioned that the Xbox Game Pass isn’t intended for everyone, but if their goal of reaching 100 million users is true, it would make sense for them to widen its audience as much as feasible. Given the variety of content, user-friendly interfaces, and added benefits for free-to-play games, it appears they are currently pursuing this strategy.

Xbox Game Pass is really gaining momentum in terms of content, leaving me more curious than ever about its future expansion. However, it appears that it has made a significant leap into wider recognition recently – and we’re only halfway through the year! The most exciting part is yet to come, which is quite astounding to consider.

Read More

2025-04-24 16:39