Xbox games in Game Pass could lose a significant portion of premium sales, with some titles seeing up to an 80% decline. Meanwhile, Game Pass may also indirectly boost PS5 sales for multi-platform titles, claims a business journalist.
According to Christopher Dring, a respected business journalist, Xbox titles featured in the Game Pass subscription service can face a drastic reduction in expected premium sales—up to 80% in some cases. Interestingly, for multi-platform games, this inclusion could paradoxically drive PlayStation 5 sales. Speaking during a Q&A on InstalBase forums, Dring shared his insights into the pros and cons of Game Pass and its market impact.
Sales Drop on Xbox, Boost on PlayStation
“Anecdotally, games included in Game Pass can see around an 80% drop in expected premium sales on Xbox,” Dring noted.
*”This number often gets cited. It’s less for major, mainstream releases, but the trend is clear… Just look at how low Hellblade 2 charted. Or where Indiana Jones landed. Even Starfield wasn’t immune. Game Pass undeniably hurt their Xbox sales.
However, for multi-platform games, the story changes. The surge in Xbox players can actually create positive ripples for PlayStation sales.”
The Dual-Edged Sword of Subscription Models
Dring expressed mixed feelings about the subscription-based approach, emphasizing its effectiveness depends on the type of game.
“Being an indie developer on Xbox without Game Pass is incredibly tough right now,” he said.
“At the same time, getting people to even try your game in 2024 or 2025 is a monumental challenge. Subscription services can put your game in front of a massive audience,” Dring continued.
“We know from data that there’s a large group of players who primarily play Call of Duty. If some of them get the game via Game Pass and, in turn, explore other games in the library they otherwise wouldn’t, it’s hard to call that a bad thing.”
UK Video Game Sales in Decline
Recent UK sales data highlights a broader challenge for the industry. Total video game revenue in the region fell by 4.4% in 2024, amounting to £4.6 billion. This downturn was primarily driven by a 35% drop in physical game sales, which generated just £324.4 million last year.
Source: VideoGameChronicles
