Microsoft continues to attract people to its Xbox Game Pass service. The “Netflix for video games” service now has 18 million subscribers, compared to the 15 million reported earlier in September. Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that offers access to a growing variety of over 100 Xbox games for $ 9.99 per month.
Microsoft has been insisting on Xbox Game Pass for over a year now, and it’s clear that the company is heavily invested in its future. Bungie’s Destiny 2 appeared on Xbox Game Pass late last year, and Control is also available on the service for both Xbox and PC.
On a earnings call today, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Xbox Live has more than 100 million active users monthly. Nadella also said that the launch of the Xbox Series X and S was the most successful in Microsoft’s history, with ‘the most devices ever sold in a launch month’.
Microsoft also appears to be focusing on studio purchases to enhance the content available on Game Pass. Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Doem and Dropout studio Bethesda Softworks, is a major issue that will boost Xbox Game Pass in the future.
There were also a variety of promotions designed to lure consumers to Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft regularly offers the first month of service for $ 1 and has encouraged Xbox Live Gold customers to switch to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes the new xCloud game streaming feature. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are also now getting a month of Disney Plus for free, along with other benefits.
Controversially, Microsoft recently planned to increase its Xbox Live Gold cost in a move that has been widely interpreted as an attempt to push people into Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft has quickly decided to turn around, and Xbox Live Gold’s prices will remain the same for now. Free games also no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription.