The year ends, a 2021 which was an ode to the player. A year full of games to be bored and of an irreproachable quality. Offers of all kinds and for everyone, From Ratchet & Clanck: Rift Appart, to Metroid Dread and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Despite the fact that the new consoles have made a lot of headlines, this year was the year that the real stars were gaming.
I think I’m not mistaken if I say that all companies must be satisfied. After facing a global pandemic and a supply crisis, video games have been a key part of the world. And many projects have emerged to offer unforgettable experiences.
The Xbox Game Pass turned out to be a real disruption
Yes I already know. It’s an Xbox site and you think you are reading something partisan. It’s possible, but it’s still an opinion piece at the end of the day. So let me explain to you the reasons why I think the Game Pass was imposed in 2021 and has proven to be a viable alternative in this crazy video game industry.
We got to know the subscriber data, which seems they don’t stop growing every trimester. In fact, Microsoft has already confirmed that the subscription generates benefits, so the mantra that “it’s not profitable” is shattered, an error that was fueled precisely by people who weren’t going to pay for it. use or give it away. So much so that the 1 euro promotion has been going on for years and they have never even tried …
Today, no one can imagine Xbox without Game Pass. It’s not required, it’s optional, but it’s an inherent part of the dashboard, marketing, and overall experience. Launching the games into the service on the day they were launched did not diminish Americans’ ability to generate revenue, in fact they nearly tripled project output and doubled the investment to bring proposals to the service. .
Let the games do the talking
I still remember how many, myself included, thought that this crazy Microsoft idea would be mostly focused on minor games or indie games. Today, the character and perception of the Game Pass are different, Microsoft bought Bethesda just to feed its members with games, has over 20 studios working on various projects as big budget games hit launch. As close examples we have Back 4 Blood or STALKER 2.
Being a Game Pass subscriber means you’ll never run out of top tier and variety games. And for proof I leave you the list of the best rated games of the year by Metacritic. Of the 10 games listed, 7 of them are on Game Pass; and 4 are produced by Xbox Game Studios.
- Hades – 93.
- Forza Horizon 5 – 92.
- Psychonauts 2 – 91.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator – 90.
- Legendary Edition of Mass Effect – 90.
- It takes two – 89.
- F1 2021 – 88.
- Hitman 3 – 87.
- The Door of Death – 87.
- Infinite Halo – 87.
While good, looking a bit better in the roster, Death’s Door was also on Game Pass, and Mass Effect Legendary Edition might be coming soon thanks to EA Play. Today you have over 400 games to choose from and add up.
The Game Pass is already an option and a competitor in the market
Today, Microsoft’s rivals aren’t just looking at a console, they are facing a business stuck to the bone in the PC, in the streaming service, and in the living room. But is it on top of that the potential to attract subscribers is enormous
Fortunately for the more traditional, the Game Pass is still only an addition, it is not the future, it is the present which coexists with the traditional format. You can always buy your games and play them whenever you want without the thought that one day they might crash. Although playing them in Game Pass also comes at a price, as you get them at a 20% discount if you decide to purchase them.
But if there’s something I have no doubts about, it’s that this year was the year the company was able to demonstrate that their idea was viable, that the Xbox is healthier than ever. and that the Game Pass has only just begun. It will give a lot to say in the years to come and here Microsoft already has a lot of advantages behind it.
And you do you think? Do you think that that year Game Pass showed all it could offer?
