Phil Spencer: Project xCloud will come to Xbox Game Pass, users playing 'twice' as much
Yesterday during Microsoft's earnings report, Xbox shared some figures about Xbox Game Pass for the first time, which enjoys over 10 million users. Today, Xbox head Phil Spencer shared even more figures on the nascent Netflix-like gaming service.
Yesterday, Microsoft unveiled various figures in a huge earnings call, citing massive growth across the board. Xbox grew too, enjoying record-breaking engagement while sharing Xbox Game Pass (XGP) user figures for the first time.
Xbox Game Pass sits at over ten million active subscribers as of writing, putting the value of the service into the tens of millions of dollars.
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Straight from Xbox HQ.
Xbox Game Pass via the Microsoft Store is still simple and convenient. With the option of auto-renewal, paired with odd deals, you'll always have a full library in reach.
Today, Microsoft's gaming lead Phil Spencer shared some additional facts and figures around Xbox Game Pass user behavior, to showcase how the service isn't just driving cash flow, but also engagement for developers involved with the service.
Spencer went on to emphasize various player stats in the blog post, noting that Xbox Live's friendship rate has increased by 70 percent on the back of Xbox Game Pass, as users begin adding friends to their contact lists on Xbox Live. This could hint at an upswing in completely new customers, off the back of Xbox Game Pass for PC, which includes social features within its app.
Source: Microsoft
Spencer also indicated that Xbox Game Pass users are playing twice as much as non-XGP users, citing them as a reason for the 130 percent increase in multiplayer gaming on Xbox during the past quarter.
Additionally, Microsoft confirmed that Project xCloud Xbox game streaming is coming to Xbox Game Pass, allowing Xbox Game Pass users to stream the library to any device. We have asked Microsoft to clarify whether Project xCloud will be included gratis as part of the regular subscription, or will be an added "tier," like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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Update April 30, 2020: Further to Microsoft's reiteration of Project xCloud joining Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft noted that they'll have "more to share" on pricing options in the future.
The sustained growth of Xbox Game Pass suggests to me that Microsoft chose the right path for growing its gaming operation, particularly when you factor in Project xCloud, which Microsoft says will launch proper later in 2020. Initiatives like Xbox Game Pass Perks, which give you bonuses in other games, could also help drive the service in the future, if Microsoft can land some big deals with more free-to-play games like they have with Smite and World of Tanks.
In any case, Xbox Game Pass is on the up and up, and it'll be interesting to see what other features it can incorporate in the future.
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Jez Corden is a Managing Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter (X) and Threads, and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!