Xbox Game Pass subscription growth fell short of Microsoft’s target in FY21
Xbox Game Pass gained subscribers over the last year, but not as many as Microsoft hoped.
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What you need to know
Xbox Game Passgrew by 37.48% in Microsoft’s 2021 fiscal year, but the gaming subscription’s growth fell short of Microsoft’s targets. According to a recentSEC filing, Microsoft had a target of 47.79% growth in FY21 (viaAxios). Microsoft’s 2021 fiscal year ended on June 30, 2021.
While Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass grew by 37.47% between mid-2020 and mid-2021, that growth rate falls significantly below the same metric between mid-2019 and mid-2020. Xbox Game Pass grew by 85.75% in FY2020. That difference is due in part to Xbox Game Pass being newer in the 2020 fiscal year, as reflected by Microsoft’s lower FY21 target of 47.79%.
The growth rate of Xbox Game Pass subscribers is one of the only concrete metrics that Microsoft shares about its game subscription service. The last time Microsoft confirmed thetotal number of Xbox Game Pass subscriberswas back in January 2021 (18 million).
The growth of Xbox Game Pass subscribers is one of the performance goals for top executives at Microsoft. If the company hits these targets over a three-year period, the executives receive additional stock.
Microsoft has added asteady stream of gamesto Xbox Game Pass since its launch, but many original titles are still on the horizon. Microsoft’s game studio acquisitions will take time to bear fruit, which may bolster Xbox Game Pass' subscriber count.
Xbox Game Pass is a Netflix-like subscription service from Microsoft. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides access to games on PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. It also includes Xbox Live Gold.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
