The Verge Exposes Game Pass Missed Mark: Microsoft’s Console Challenger Squeezed, Welcoming Hi-Fi Rush as the Inaugural Gaming Experience

The Verge website has cited sources from Microsoft regarding the new direction of Xbox. They have set their sights on two upcoming games for other consoles, namely Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment. These games will be released on both the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Additionally, there are rumors that Sea of Thieves might also make its way to these consoles within this year.

The reason behind Microsoft’s return to consoles is due to the underperformance of their Game Pass subscription, which did not meet their initial targets. Initially, Microsoft had announced their vision of reaching 100 million Game Pass subscribers by 2030. While the subscriber numbers grew rapidly in the early stages according to plan, it has stagnated recently due to issues faced by Microsoft’s own studios in terms of game delays, such as the highly anticipated Starfield game being pushed back from 2022 to 2023.

Microsoft last revealed the Game Pass subscriber numbers in January 2022, with a total of 25 million subscribers. However, they have not provided any updates on these numbers since then. Analysts speculate that the current numbers may be around 33 million subscribers.

In addition to the Game Pass challenges, Microsoft has faced issues with other aspects of their business plans. For instance, their Xbox Mobile Store expansion has been hindered by Apple’s app store restrictions. Despite the European DMA laws, which should have provided alternative revenue streams, Microsoft still finds it necessary to explore other avenues. This is why they have decided to bring their games to competing consoles.

TLDR: Microsoft is planning to release two games, Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch. There is a possibility that Sea of Thieves will also follow suit this year. The decision to return to consoles stems from the underperformance of their Game Pass subscription, which did not meet their initial targets. The exact number of Game Pass subscribers remains unknown, but estimates suggest it may be around 33 million. Microsoft has faced other challenges with their business plans, such as Apple’s app store restrictions, leading them to explore alternate revenue streams by expanding to other consoles.