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Xbox Game Pass is a pretty darn good deal for consumers, but according to PlayStation boss Jim Ryan, publishers dislike it. The details come from the seemingly never-ending pile of documents and miles of testimony regarding Xbox’s gaming strategy during the Microsoft vs. FTC case (via The Verge).
Over the past few days both Microsoft and Sony have been questioned thoroughly on a wide range of topics. At one point, Ryan is questioned on an investors meeting from February of 2022. Where he states that he’s heard from many publishers that they don’t like Xbox Game Pass. Calling the service “value destructive.” Further mentioning that he talks to publishers all the time. Ryan continues by saying that publishers have held this opinion over many years, and that it’s a commonly held opinion of all publishers he regularly speaks to.
Understanding why publishers may dislike Xbox Game Pass
On some level, you can probably see how this makes sense. At the very reasonable cost of Xbox Game Pass, you as a customer get access to boat loads of games. All for an otherwise nominal monthly fee. This includes big AAA releases as well as some indies. From both first-party and third-party studios. With many of them being available on Game Pass on day one. Looking at this as a customer, it’s a very attractive deal. But as a publisher, maybe not so much.
Games available on Game Pass for day one of release no doubt lead to lower sales of the game. Which could lead to the titles being seen as a lower value release. It’s potentially for these reasons why customers might never see day one releases of some of Sony‘s biggest first-party titles available on PlayStation Plus Extra or Premium. Even if some do eventually make it to the subscription service months or years later.