The Xbox Game Pass subscription service has achieved a new milestone of 34 million active subscribers, as announced on the Official Xbox Podcast. This represents a significant increase from the previously reported 25 million subscribers in January 2022, demonstrating notable growth over the past two years.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that provides access to a wide variety of games for a monthly fee, similar to how video-on-demand services like Netflix operate. It is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and through game streaming on certain phones, tablets, smart TVs, and some VR headsets. With popular titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and Sea of Thieves included, the service’s growing popularity is understandable.
The recent increase in subscriber numbers coincides with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, hinting at the possibility of more Activision Blizzard titles being added to Xbox Game Pass. While it was initially announced that Diablo 4 would be available to all subscribers, Xbox later clarified that it would not be part of the “Core” catalog tier at launch.
As Xbox plans to bring some of its previously exclusive titles to rival platforms like Nintendo and PlayStation, the expansion of Xbox Game Pass and the addition of major titles like Diablo 4 illustrate Microsoft’s commitment to increasing the accessibility and variety of its gaming offerings.
How Can I Get an Xbox Game Pass Subscription?
Xbox Game Pass is available on console, PC, and cloud platforms, with all 34 million subscribers being paying members. The service has experienced significant growth, particularly on PC and cloud platforms, as Microsoft aims to expand beyond console gaming.
To obtain a Game Pass subscription, users can access it on their Xbox console or PC. For Xbox users, the Xbox Store is accessible from the home screen, while PC users can use the Xbox app or visit the Xbox website. Upon selecting “Xbox Game Pass,” various subscription options such as Game Pass for Console, PC, or Ultimate will be displayed. Users can choose the plan that best suits their needs and proceed with the on-screen instructions to complete the purchase. Payment information will need to be entered, if not already added to the Microsoft account. Once the purchase is complete, users can immediately begin downloading and playing any of the games available in the Game Pass library.
