Phil Spencer Says Game Pass Is Sustainable, Not Burning Cash

@MigGui: Probably works well for some types of games, but not so well for others. Hopefully MS arn't being hoardy money grabbers about it like other streaming services as obviously GP is massively driving building the brand for them, but its hard to imagine a company of that magnitude not being that way. Just kinda seems like you might expect to start seeing a tonne more yearly repeatathon titles that hold your attention for as long as possible with sporadic quality content and a tonne of filler a bit like the average ubislog or the later seasons of the walking dead (lol), just to milk that GP revenue.

@blueoasis: If they are losing money right now, then it is obviously not sustainable. That's his quote in case you overread it: "No. Game Pass is very, very sustainable right now."

@dmblum1799: Well, that makes all the difference.

@dmblum1799: Standard Gamepass is $10. You're paying extra for Live and EA access.

@illegal_peanut: "Since game studios are more desperate".

More desperate than what? And since when are game studios desperate?

@YukoAsho: So knowing all that, and knowing that it still took Netflix that long to become profitable, there's no way I believe MS isn't still hemorrhaging cash on GamePass at the 4 year mark.

@psychomantisiii: Very good point. Xbox has said that they see people buy more games this way. Like I have the thought of "if I don't have to buy this game but its great...Ill buy the season pass or the add on bundle." I think we will see more early access deals and such going forward.

@Atzenkiller:

Oh I have no problem with gamepass or netflix, I do not see them as bad or good, just a change in how we consume multimedia entertainment.

I mean I started out laying quarters on arcade machines for my turn, what ever comes I think the best advice for us all is- carefully pay for what you actually consume and be an informed consumer.

Physical is the best option for consumers in value... but it is going away, whether I like it or not. I do not see gaming's future as bleak though, I see things are only getting better.

@BeefoTheBold: Indeed. Netflix (and for that matter, services like Tubi) are a great supplement, but they're more a replacement for rental than for purchase. Problem with Gamepass is that MS seems to want it to REPLACE game ownership, or at least replace having to make exclusives.

@BeefoTheBold: Oh I have no problem with gamepass or netflix, I do not see them as bad or good, just a change in how we consume multimedia entertainment.

I mean I started out laying quarters on arcade machines for my turn, what ever comes I think the best advice for us all is- carefully pay for what you actually consume and be an informed consumer.

@BeefoTheBold: I have boxes full of games/DVDs/Blu-Rays, in closets full of...boxes. Not to mention books -- college text books and every technical book purchased over the last 20+ years. To have all that reduced to something with the dimensions of a hard drive would be fantastic.

People expressed concern about with digital games, and now sales of the format has climbed. PC players were way ahead of console users. I expect game services like Game Pass with be more readily adopted with each passing year.

@blaznwiipspman1: I was there for midnight sale at a Babbages for that first console. I was the first to have network hubs and 4-8 consoles and 16 player Halo around my area or state. While xbox has stumbled 8th gen, I appreciate their bold moves. I also give credit to Sony - who has without a doubt taken some of the biggest chances as well.

From what I have seen in the gaming industry over these last 40 yrs.... you either go big or go home.