Game Pass Value Is in Its Deep Portfolio Rather Than Any Single Acquisition, Says Microsoft

wccftech.com:

The latest news on the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard deal from regulatory bodies around the world gave fans a solid hope that the company's prized games might soon make it to Game Pass. After all, if heavy hitters like Diablo and Call of Duty appeared on Microsoft's subscription service, analysts believe the subscription figures could explode. However, speaking to Rolling Stone, Xbox corporate vice president Sarah Bond said the true value of Game Pass lies in the depth and breadth of its portfolio rather than any single acquisition.

We’ve been very clear about our commitment to have our first-party portfolio shipping to Game Pass day and date. We understand that people really value that, but it’s also about diversity of content. It’s not really about any one acquisition. It’s about the depth and breadth of the portfolio all up; from big triple-A games to indie titles to hidden gems. That’s actually what makes Game Pass really valuable.

It could be argued that purchasing one of the biggest third-party publishers is a great way to increase both the depth and breadth of said portfolio. Needless to say, it would make a huge difference, and there's a chance Microsoft might also increase the subscription service's price; they've already removed the long-standing $1 new user promotion. On the other hand, the company is also testing a Friends and Family option that might be advantageous for large groups of relatives and friends.

In the Rolling Stone interview, Sarah Bond also talked about the way Game Pass influences game development.

Game Pass is an option for developers. One thing that we talk a lot about internally but I’ve been striving to share more externally is the business model associated with a game has an endemic link