Xbox head says Game Pass isn't about replacing game sales Rock Paper Shotgun Support us Join our newsletter Visit our store Sign in / Create account If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Xbox head says Game Pass isn't about replacing game sales Both are growing, says Phil Spencer News by Graham Smith Contributor Published on Jan. 12, 2022 13 comments Microsoft don't intend to do away with selling individual games anytime soon. That's the takeaway from Xbox head Phil Spencer's recent interview with the New York Times. "The retail market continues to be very strong and grow. So let's make sure we offer our customers choice between subscriptions and transactions," says Spencer. Spencer was asked whether Game Pass was, effectively, Netflix for video games. "I'd say the difference for us is in the business model of - you can buy every game that's available on the subscription, which is a little different than a music subscription or a movie subscription," says Spencer. Watch on YouTube "I think the option of allowing people to buy, it's just been a traditional part of gaming. The retail market continues to be very strong and grow. So let's make sure we offer our customers choice between subscriptions and transactions. That's probably the only difference between us and some of the video subscriptions." Spencer also points out that "transaction" is currently bigger than subscription. "Subscription is growing faster, just because it's relatively new. And with Game Pass, we were one of the first movers in that space. But the transaction business is very large. We still sell physical disks." Xbox Game Pass - or PC Game Pass, now - is great value for money. There are lots of games I want to play but will like drop after just a few hours, meaning I can't justify buying them at full price. Game Pass let's me sample them. I'm ambivalent however about the growing importance of digital landlords, and I don't relish a world where I give money to Microsoft rather than the actual makers of games. But given the success of platforms like Steam and Itch, it's probably foolish to think Microsoft are in control of what the future of gaming looks like, even if PC Game Pass is good and getting better. The rest of the interview is worth a read for Spencer's views on Netflix's first steps into gaming, and brief mention of Microsoft's repsonse to staff mistreatment at Activision Blizzard. Thanks for the spot, PC Gamer. More News Jack King-Spooner's next handcrafted game has a teaser demo out Judero brings chat and action in the Scottish Borders Alice O'Connor 17 hours ago 1 If you were hoping for any Overwatch 2 balance changes then you'll have to wait until season two The next season begins in December CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 3 The Dead Space remake will chuck random Necromorphs at you as you wander the Ishimura In space, no one can hear you proper bricking it CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 8 Valve register mysterious new Neon Prime trademark in the US It doesn’t seem to be for a particularly colourful Steam Deck CJ Wheeler 20 hours ago 11 Latest Articles What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 22 Past Wordle answers Here's an archive of previous Wordle words Ollie Toms 2 hours ago 1 Wordle answer today (Saturday 15 October) Hints and the answer to today's Wordle word Rebecca Jones 9 hours ago Overwatch 2 hero tier list Which are the best heroes in Overwatch 2? Ollie Toms 16 hours ago Supporters Only You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Japanese dating show Love Wagon has surprising parallels with Yakuza and Persona My new obsession Ed Thorn 2 days ago If you're hankering after Bayonetta 3, Valkyrie Elysium might be a good substitute It's not out on PC until next month, but the console demo has been a surprise charmer Katharine Castle 1 week ago 4 We've been talking, and we think that you should wear clothes Total coincidence, but we sell some clothes Buy RPS stuff here