Phil Spencer reveals how much Xbox Game Pass costs to upkeep - and it’s staggering
It’s got me doing my best Dr. Evil impression
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Xbox boss Phil Spencer has revealed how much itsXbox Game Passsubscription service is costing the company, and it’s a pretty penny, to say the least.
In an interview withWindows Central, Spencer revealed that whileXbox Game Passis “financially viable,” the company spends “over a billion dollars a year supporting third-party games coming into Game Pass.” He then touches on the strategic reasons why Xbox spends so much on its service which is often regarded as one of the best deals in gaming.
“I think a lot of the publishers are naturally drawn to making games that are big hit games, as big as possible,” Spencer explains. “We want to do that as well, of course. But because we have a platform, and we have a subscription service, having people play more and stay engaged on the platform, frankly, regardless of the types of games they’re playing, is a very viable part of our strategy.”
There’s certainly some truth to that. Xbox Game Pass is notable for hosting first-party Xbox Game Studios titles likeStarfield, Hi-Fi Rush,andForza Motorsporton day one of release. But each month also brings generous helpings of third-party titles from developers large and small. Recent standout additions have been the shadowdropping ofpopular soulslike shootersRemnant: From the AshesandRemnant 2.Last month also saw the addition of games likeSpirittea, Thirsty Suitors,andRollerdrome.
Spencer also commented on the likelihood of Xbox Game Pass making the jump to competing hardware; namelyPlayStation 5andNintendo Switch. The short answer is no, in spite of the heavy investment Xbox is putting into its service.
“We have no plans to bring Game Pass to PlayStation or Nintendo. It’s not in our plans,” he said. Owners of those consoles will have to stick withPS PlusandNintendo Switch Online, respectively, for now then.
Xbox Game Pass is worth checking out if you’re a fresh current-gen Xbox console owner. Consider browsing our guide to the verybest Xbox Game Pass gamesto find out which are essential downloads.
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Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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