While successful, the current Xbox Game Pass model is hampered by its reliance on console sales, a conclusion supported by lackluster success in the hardware market compared to PlayStation.
Although Microsoft has invested heavily in gaming in recent years, studio closures and the disappointing market foothold aren't beneficial for anyone.
However, if the console strategy moved toward a platform available across devices, the costs could go to servers and studio maintenance.
A shift towards a purely digital, cloud-based Game Pass would have considerable advantages for both Microsoft itself and for Xbox users.
A video game streaming landscape dominated by Game Pass might still seem like an unlikely or undesirable future, but there are plenty of reasons why this path forward could have its own benefits.