Wednesday, December 22nd 2021
Access to Xbox Game Pass Worth $6,300 in Games for 2021
Microsoft is well on its way towards becoming the Netflix of videogames, considering the running success of its Game Pass subscription service. The idea is simple: players pay a monthly fee (starting at $9,99 for PC or Xbox-specific subscriptions) and they receive access to a curated portfolio of game experiences. The platform is bolstered by the fact that Microsoft's first-party titles are made available day-one for Games Pass subscribers. In 2021 alone, this approach by Microsoft gave gamers access to games like Halo Infinite, Age of Empires 4, Forza Horizon 5, and the incredibly quirky Psychonauts 2. But is it worth it to have a Games Pass subscription, thus waiving ownership of those actual games?
Your mileage will certainly vary; but in pure dollar terms, it's difficult to argue against the idea. According to The Loadout, Games Pass subscribers were given access to around $6,300 worth of games throughout 2021 - that's how much a consumer would have to pay, day one, to own all of the games that Microsoft included (and sometimes rotated out) of its Game Pass library. A yearly Game Pass Ultimate subscription (for PC and Xbox games) would give you access to the same cadre of titles for a much more modest $15 a month - $180 in total. In March alone, Games Pass subscribers saw the floodgates open to around $960 worth of games (and potentially thousands of hours of gameplay) with the addition of Bethesda Softwork's titles to the service, following the $7,5 billion Microsoft acquisition of parent company Zenimax Media.
Source:
The Loadout
Your mileage will certainly vary; but in pure dollar terms, it's difficult to argue against the idea. According to The Loadout, Games Pass subscribers were given access to around $6,300 worth of games throughout 2021 - that's how much a consumer would have to pay, day one, to own all of the games that Microsoft included (and sometimes rotated out) of its Game Pass library. A yearly Game Pass Ultimate subscription (for PC and Xbox games) would give you access to the same cadre of titles for a much more modest $15 a month - $180 in total. In March alone, Games Pass subscribers saw the floodgates open to around $960 worth of games (and potentially thousands of hours of gameplay) with the addition of Bethesda Softwork's titles to the service, following the $7,5 billion Microsoft acquisition of parent company Zenimax Media.
39 Comments on Access to Xbox Game Pass Worth $6,300 in Games for 2021
:laugh:... I never thought about it that way :laugh:
Consider it like this. You basically pay $120 for a year of Game Pass, in other words two $59.99 games. If you find yourself buying more than two games a year, then subscribing is definitely worth it. Especially if Microsoft owns the studios that make the games you like to play (343, Mojang, Phayground, Rare, Bethesta, iD etc.)
But there isn't a new Forza every year, or a new Age of Empires, or a new Halo. There are games released in between that may or may not be hits, or you can dive into the older category of games. So like I said, whether its worth it depends on the year.
The partnership with EA is pretty cool though, so you get access to select EA Play games as well, which sweetens the deal overall.
A fix for this is coming in the insider build for the file permissions, which can't come soon enough for actual release.
As for the service itself it's great, especially now with Series S and the whole global shortage bs. You might have a problem securing yourself a Series X or PS5 but Series S is pretty much always in stock at MSRP. Combined with gamepass this becomes the budget game system for almost everyone.
But still, the value is a big pile of hot air, because many games will see big content updates a year down the line and many are even roadmapped to keep you returning to them regularly. The vanilla content will go on heavy sale every time those content updates drop. So if you just wait for stuff to go feature complete and then buy at say, 30-40 bucks for the whole package and indefinite access, I know what deal I prefer... and then you are in control. That content is there always, moddable, version controlled, etc.
Wow.
Just the codes they give out for Spotify, Crunchyroll, Discord Nitro, included EA Play subscription etc. all make it worth it. Speaking of EA, it looks like I actually need to make another Origin account, because the one I had all these years has a severed Xbox link (from changing gamertag), and EA representatives aren't at all able to fix it, so there goes my library, my level 500 Apex account with a buncha heirlooms, etc... funny how their system is utter crap and it's you, the player, who has to deal with it.
Xbox 360 live is another good example, once it shuts down next year none of that content will be playable, and if you dont already hav eit downloaded, you're screwed. This already happened with marvel's ultimate avengers 2, in which the DLC for the game, including a character that could only be had via DLC, was lost due to a licensing dispute. Not only couldnt you buy it, but even if you owned it you COULDNT REDOWNLOAD IT.
Original xbox: the downloadable hydro thunder title was lost after the OG live service was shut down
PS3/PSP: the only reason you can still get software for these is due to public backlash, eventually they will become inacessable as well.
It's pretty clear: you do not own your digital products. If the service shuts down, there is a good chance you'll lose everything. There is a very good reason many of us are opposed to online DRM and account requirements and subscription services replacing actual purchases of games.Yes, many people have a bone to pick with yet another subscription service being shoved in our faces. There is plenty of evidence that the industry is trying to push everyone onto these subscription services, of course to make more $$$.
"you will own nothing and you'll be happy"