Today marks the 400th day since Xbox last shared Game Pass subscribers count

[Heisenberg007]

On January 18, 2022, Xbox's boss Phil Spencer shared that Game Pass had reached 25 million subscribers.

That was 400 days ago.

Since then, Microsoft has not shared the updated subscriber count, except for brief vague mentions that Game Pass continues to grow. They didn't mention if the total number of subscribers has increased or if they were talking about the average revenue per user (ARPU).

For all we know, Game Pass may have decreased in subscribers number, considering that Game Pass missed its internal targets for 2 years in a row and Phil Spencer claimed that Game Pass's growth on console has slowed down and hit a saturation point.

A few years ago, Xbox stopped sharing console sales numbers because they were too poor to share. Then the narrative shifted that Game Pass sub is the most important metric to them and "console sales do not matter" because Xbox "is playing the long game."

Now they do not even report on their most important metric.

 

[Bodycount611]

it's probably gone down after covid ending + the industry's/world's worst-ever games lineup disaster in 2022

 

[Gods&Monsters]

The only reason it went up fast is because of the gold conversion promo in 2019. The year after they missed their target.

 

[PlacidusaX]

With $1 3 month trials I'm sure it's up.

 

[anonpuffs]

On January 18, 2022, Xbox's boss Phil Spencer shared that Game Pass had reached 25 million subscribers.

That was 400 days ago.

Since then, Microsoft has not shared the updated subscriber count, except for brief vague mentions that Game Pass continues to grow. They didn't mention if the total number of subscribers has increased or if they were talking about the average revenue per user (ARPU).

For all we know, Game Pass may have decreased in subscribers number, considering that Game Pass missed its internal targets for 2 years in a row and Phil Spencer claimed that Game Pass's growth on console has slowed down and hit a saturation point.

A few years ago, Xbox stopped sharing console sales numbers because they were too poor to share. Then the narrative shifted that Game Pass sub is the most important metric to them and "console sales do not matter" because Xbox "is playing the long game."

Now they do not even report on their most important metric.

b-b-b-but MAUs

 

[Gediminas]

They are missing target 3rd year in a row. They basically reach saturation mode on xbox and real growing number is just on PC.

 

[Heisenberg007]

They are missing target 3rd year in a row. They basically reach saturation mode on xbox and real growing number is just on PC.

Considering that PC Game Pass would already be only a few million subscribers, I'm afraid even growth like "~150% Growth on PC" would be inconsequential.

 

[Zeroing]

Oh man I missed those endless gamepass threads on neogaf! So glad I got my fix.

Thank you!

 

[FatKaz]

What are we thinking the next metric phil will move to?

Number of balls scratched whilst pressing the a button?

 

[Heisenberg007]

What are we thinking the next metric phil will move to?

Number of balls scratched whilst pressing the a button?

Other options:

• Number of controllers the avg. Xbox gamer has
• Number of nail polishes
• Number of times a person advertises Game Pass on internet forums
• Number of controller and soda can hoodies Xbox gamers own
• Number of times they open and close the Xbox refrigerator

 

[Deleted member 417]

It seems like Phil's strategy of "more places to play than ever" combined with "we are not bothered how many consoles we sell" doesn't seem to be paying off. To the surprise of no one.

 

[Heisenberg007]

It seems like Phil's strategy of "more places to play than ever" combined with "we are not bothered how many consoles we sell" doesn't seem to be paying off. To the surprise of no one.

Yep. It was always stupid to downplay console sales (which they are still doing, by the way).

Game Pass subscriptions growth rate is directly tied to console market share.

 

[KiryuRealty]

It seems like Phil's strategy of "more places to play than ever" combined with "we are not bothered how many consoles we sell" doesn't seem to be paying off. To the surprise of no one.

More places to play the absolute bugger-all MS released last year isn’t much of a pitch.

 

[adamsapple]

For all we know, Game Pass may have decreased in subscribers number, considering that Game Pass missed its internal targets for 2 years in a row and Phil Spencer claimed that Game Pass's growth on console has slowed down and hit a saturation point.

If a lie gets shot down on GAF, I guess you can always post it here

Missed Satya's bonus target = / = decreased in subs.

Microsoft targeted a 73 percent growth rate for Game Pass for its fiscal year ending 30th June 2022. Instead, it managed just 28 percent growth.

PS Plus is losing subs by the millions my friend, not game pass.

 

[ethomaz]

They are missing their target for years now... so sharing the numbers won't do any good.
I still believe it is over 25 million (last shared data) but it is hard to believe it is a lot over that... maybe it is below 30 million yet.

 

[KiryuRealty]

If a lie gets shot down on GAF, I guess you can always post it here

Missed Satya's bonus target = / = decreased in subs.



PS Plus is losing subs by the millions my friend, not game pass.

Seethe harder.


Everyone knows XBox shat the bed in all categories last year, including subscription revenue.

A Phil nuthugger like you know that MS goes silent when numbers are bad. How much have they talked about GP sub growth in the last quarter?

 

[adamsapple]

Seethe harder.

Everyone knows XBox shat the bed in all categories last year, including subscription revenue.

A Phil nuthugger like you know that MS goes silent when numbers are bad. How much have they talked about GP sub growth in the last quarter?

Oof, this post telling anyone else to seethe harder is a work of beauty

2 million subs lost in a quarter: *I SLEEP*
28% growth = "They're losing subs LAWL"

 

[Satoru]

PS Plus is losing subs by the millions my friend, not game pass.

PS Plus gained subscriptions QoQ though? Absolute growth YoY is down, but QoQ is up, and will likely continue going up now that there's no more shortage of consoles. Also, even YoY, their bookings for PS Plus are up by 20B yen. Their bookings for network services are on an upward trend since Q2 last year, or 5 quarters.

https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/22q3_supplement.pdf

@adamsapple stop with the whataboutism, it's tiring. Imagine bringing into an argument a comparison between a service that is sold at heavy discounts, including free licenses with Doritos and Pringles, to a service where discounts are few and far apart, and are never in the region of 90% (hell, 25% would be great). Revenue (excluding add on and MTX even!) is up on PS Plus in spite of the slump in subscriptions in Q2.

 

[adamsapple]

PS Plus gained subscriptions QoQ though? Absolute growth YoY is down, but QoQ is up, and will likely continue going up now that there's no more shortage of consoles. Also, even YoY, their bookings for PS Plus are up by 20B yen. Their bookings for network services are on an upward trend since Q2 last year, or 5 quarters.

https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/22q3_supplement.pdf

They've been in a dropping pattern with FYQ3 being the only slight uptick in the last 5 quarters. One expects numbers to rise after a massive revamp, not drop. Wouldn't you agree ?

 

[Heisenberg007]

If a lie gets shot down on GAF, I guess you can always post it here

Aw yes, the poor "Xbox/Microsoft persecution complex."

It runs from top to bottom. The fans and the executives both suffer from it.

Missed Satya's bonus target = / = decreased in subs.

Never said they're the same. You should read more attentively. In fact, I explicitly mentioned that MS has said that Game Pass is growing. But at the same time, GP has also been missing internal targets.

Both things can be true.

PS Plus is losing subs by the millions my friend, not game pass.

At least we get numbers, right? Why does MS hide their numbers?