According to the analyst, “the problem with Game Pass is that it was all or nothing.” He recommends an “à la carte” alternative that does not encourage buyers to obtain the games separately. Increasing the price of Xbox Game Pass to $30 for the highest tier made the option even less attractive. Some players only spend $140 a year on a few titles, instead of the current $360.
An ultra-premium Game Pass gateway?
The Magnus PC/console hybrid could support Steam, but Microsoft needs subscribers to adopt the system. Without exclusive games, Pachter doubts these users will make the transition. As a result, he says: “I think the console is dead. I think they’ve already ruined everything with the console by adopting Game Pass.”
Microsoft is unlikely to stop development of the machine at this point. In early February, AMD CEO Lisa Su hinted that the machine was on track for a 2027 release. After taking over her new role, Asha Sharma also promised that hardware remained a priority. Still, price is a major concern for the new Xbox console, which Sarah Bond previously called a “high-end” device.
Rising storage and memory costs could make the system even less affordable. Add to this the increase in the price of Game Pass, and Xbox supporters are being asked for a substantial investment.
