Based on sales numbers and revenue streams, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass is way more popular than Sony’s PlayStation Now. Xbox Game Studios has pushed their subscription service much harder since X019, giving fans access to major AAA titles on Game Pass sometimes on the day of their release, including the recent Gears Tactics. Further enhancing their drive to increase the amount of Game Pass subscribers, Xbox Game Studios also revealed that Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to free in-game content and DLC.
Xbox Game Studios has upped the ante with Game Pass over the last six months, going so far as to partner with publishers mostly known for their association with Sony and PlayStation. For example, as of X019, Xbox Game Pass has increased the presence of Square Enix’s titles, adding Final Fantasy 15 to the service in February 2020. Xbox's program even has some surprise additions in the form of more colorful, quirky games.
According to gamesindustry.biz, Microsoft’s content and services revenue is up two percent as of Q3 2020, much of which comes from the over 10 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as reported during an earning’s call between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and investors. Compared to Sony’s one million PlayStation Now subscribers in October 2019, the numbers indicate a staggering difference in popularity between the two competitors’ services, even after the numbers are adjusted to account for the increase in subscribers for each service over time.
The chief difference between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now is the types of games that are offered. Game Pass became far more popular in 2019 when it started including more major titles at a much quicker pace. New AAA games are available on Microsoft’s service much sooner than on PlayStation Now – often on the day of release, depending on the game’s publisher. PlayStation Now has a much larger library than Game Pass, but majority of its games are either old – which doesn’t necessarily make them subpar, just outdated – or less buzzworthy than Xbox's many AAA titles.
While the difference between Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now is chiefly the types of games added and when, PlayStation Now has been gradually narrowing that gap. Sony’s primary model for revenue has been to get players to purchase their games, but the cloud and streaming markets are taking over the digital space, meaning that the company is going to have to change its model to compete with Xbox’s subscription service. There is no objectivity involved when it comes to deciding which service’s library is actually better, because that comes down to what each individual gamer enjoys playing and where their loyalty lies. However, the price at which players can enjoy the fruits of Xbox Game Pass and get their hands on more popular titles without having to shell out US$60 or more for each game make Microsoft’s service slightly superior… for now.
Source: gamesindustry.biz