Xbox Game Pass has been a bit of a revelation in recent years and has continued to gather pace into this generation. Xbox Boss Phil Spencer is often lauded as the vision behind the service, a service that receives Xbox first-party games (and many third-party games) on day one.
However, it isn't the only viable option on Xbox, and Phil wants us all to know that. In a talk with fellow Xbox exec Sarah Bond at GDC 2022, the pair discussed every business model on Xbox, and how Game Pass isn't the 'be all and end all' of launching games. Here's what Phil had to say:
"It's really about the diversity of business models, and this is where I sometimes contrast against other forms of media we get compared to whether it's music, whether it's video. Where, the models have really condensed down to maybe one or two business models that are working.
I fundamentally believe a strength for us in the video game business is the diversity of business models and the strength of those."
Phil also mentioned that developers sometimes question whether they are valued on Xbox if their games aren't on Game Pass. In short, they are valued indeed, and Xbox still looks at physical and digital sales as a huge part of its business:
"For us at Xbox, there's not one business model that we think is going to win. I often get asked by developers 'if I'm not in the subscription am I just not viable on Xbox anymore' and it's absolutely not true."
If you're a physical game collector, it looks like that option isn't going away anytime soon under Phil Spencer's leadership, which is great news to be honest. We love Game Pass as much as anyone, but retail purchases are still incredibly important for preservation.
Do you collect games? Or is Game Pass your main source? Vote in the poll and let us know in the comments!
Comments 21
I haven't personally purchased a physical game on Xbox since Fallout 4!
I'm fully digital and mix with purchased games and Game Pass offerings.
Only buy physical for Switch, but I buy a lot of physical games for it. I’m all digital now on PS, and mostly Gamepass now on Xbox, but there’s a random exclusion to that every once in a while.
It's about the games*
None of these companies subsidiaries would be standing without developers.
If what Phil is saying was actually true, we wouldn't see unplayable games on Xbox first party discs.
I've gone digital-only for new Xbox games for this reason.
"Diversity in business models", tell that to Games with Gold 🤣
About the poll, pretty much everything I play is from game pass. I do buy some Indies I really like and pick up the odd digital game in a deep sale.
Haven't purchased a physical game on Xbox for years. Buy physical on the Switch though, those games keep their value.
Purely play gamepass. Too many games and not enough time for me to play everything I want so I'm never in a situation where i have nothing to play and I've paid for it already so I'm not buying something outside of the service as a result.
Gamepass only on Xbox SX that and BC titles most that I already owned and not adding new ones really.
PS5 I buy the games I want but mostly snag bargains. Even for new games bargains are possible.
Switch I have a meaty physical collection but do buy games digital in the sale.
GPU basically forces you to wait for games. Even digital sales - you always think…. Hmmm… this will be on GPU next month.
GPU has probably actually made me play less game on XBOX and not more. It’s the Netflix effect…. You have too much choice and none of it you personally selected that being said Forza Horizon is best game in last 12 months on any console.
Actually got lucky and purchased my Series X today at Best Buy in store: only took 2 years to find one. Have a Series S also, so I'm anxious to see the differences! Game on, everyone! 😃
Game pass for me but with the odd purchase for example strangers in paradise. Whatever takes my fancy. Since im like 3 months advance in Gamepass and i can get free months I use that money and buy the odd game.
Kind of mixed. I use game pass a lot, but also buy games on xbox and other platforms like switch and PC.
I still buy games Physically too - in fact the next game I buy is coming this week on DISC. If it was on a Subscription, I'd obviously play it there, then maybe buy it 'digitally', more so if I have bought add-ons...
I don't tend to buy 'digital' only games or new games digitally. If I 'have' to buy, I prefer to buy Physical in general but happily play many games I wouldn't of bought, and then bought digitally because of Game Pass...
So I guess I am buying a bit more digitally than I did a couple of years ago, but still prefer Physical when buying new AAA games
This would be a rare time when I believe Phil is spewing some BS. All Xbox truly cares about is Game Pass. They've made that quite obvious recently. They still make consoles because that's still the main way people consume their content, and there are plenty of 3rd party titles that will never appear on Game Pass, so Xbox needs a console for those games as well.
I honestly believe that if they could, Microsoft would stop making consoles and just release a Game Pass stick like they are rumored to be making and have everything on there. Obviously that's not possible, so technically what Phil said isn't a complete lie, but their commitment is still to Game Pass more than anything and him trying to spin it otherwise is just BS.
Almost digital only for Xbox given physical games on Xbox are generally just physical DRM keys (this issue is even more true since Series X launched). The rare times it isn't digital only is when peripherals are involved.
Switch on the other hand is physical where possible as it's an actual physical copy.
I think Microsoft offers the most in the way they market their games. They still do physical, they do digital, they are in other stores (stream) they make devices and games cross platform. They have great merch. Just recently got the sea of thieves Xbox logo t shirt and a art poster. The way they integrate Microsoft rewards, game pass, internet usage and gaming. I love purchasing non game pass games because if you stack rewards you pay for game pass rather easily through points. Fast loading times changed this whole generation at being my favorite. Jumping between games in a party of friends bring me back to couch coop. Caught up with a bunch of high school and college friends.
70% GP, 25% digital, and a few discs when they’re very cheap.
Well outside of Halo, probably only played 3 games from xbox one onwards that werent back compatibility titles as i most play on PS and Switch. Only xbox game on the list thisyear is Starfield
I have gamepass, i buy games digitally as well and i borrow games physically
Have a series S, so all digital, mostly gamepass and a couple purchases. PS all digital. Switch mostly digital with a handful of physical because of good deal or import.
@k3lt0n About the same here, maybe a little lower on the digital side this year, will buy physical when they are dirt cheap, bought Assassins Creed Origins Gold edition physical from Ubisoft directly for like 8 euro's which was even way cheaper than any deal in the xbox store.
I'm here for the game pass give away . I haven't bought a game on the platform, I buy my games elsewhere.
Healthy even mix of purchasing digital, using gamepass, and buying games I absolutely adore on gamepass when they either go on sale or are about to leave while the discount is still there.
If it's a game I consider an all time favorite on Xbox I will own it physical, which the most recent purchase in that regard was the steelbook of Yakuza Like a Dragon.
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