Opinion: If Xbox Is ‘Just’ A Game Pass Machine, That’s Still Enough For Me

With titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Forza Horizon 5, and now Gears of War: Reloaded transitioning to PS5, there’s been some buzz this week concerning whether Xbox has simply become a Game Pass platform these days.

In other terms, considering that Xbox is extending its first-party catalog to other systems, is Game Pass the primary reason to invest in an Xbox console in 2025? I would argue “no”, although many individuals propose otherwise.

One of the contributors at Windows Central expressed this viewpoint in a piece yesterday, and numerous users on social media share similar sentiments.

There remains a valid argument that Xbox provides better value with the Series S, superior backwards compatibility features, FPS Boost, the benefit of Smart Delivery – and several other attributes that make a console a worthwhile investment.

Nonetheless, Xbox Game Pass is arguably the primary factor (besides cost) driving people to purchase Xbox consoles these days, especially as first-party titles are poised to rise to a maximum of $80 per title. The fact that you can access all these games for ‘free’ as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate makes Microsoft’s service incredibly appealing.

And you know what? That works for me. Who can say what the next evolution of consoles will entail, but if I had to choose between Xbox and PlayStation right now, I’m firmly leaning towards Xbox. There are so many fantastic Xbox Game Pass offerings that I would never have encountered otherwise – I would never have paid all that money for Indiana Jones, Avowed, South of Midnight, Oblivion Remastered, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and others, all in a short timeframe. Xbox might very well be the top publisher currently, and Microsoft is backed by companies ready to deliver phenomenal first-party experiences in the near future.

And yes, one could suggest “get a PC, enjoy them on PC Game Pass instead” – but not everyone desires to do that. We buy consoles for specific reasons, often for simplicity and the convenience of situating a device under our TVs. You might debate about Xbox Cloud Gaming‘s advantages, yet many gamers still prefer direct downloads on a console, particularly considering that unreliable internet connections can deteriorate the Cloud Gaming experience.

It’s intriguing that iconic Xbox franchises are suddenly appearing on PS5, but I truly don’t believe it signifies that Xbox consoles have lost their value. As long as they maintain reasonable Xbox Game Pass pricing, it remains enticing enough to drive console sales, in my view.

The significant question is whether Xbox will find the right balance moving forward. For now, I’m completely satisfied as an Xbox console owner in 2025, and I hope to continue feeling this way as the next generation approaches. If Xbox’s first-party and Game Pass offerings can sustain this remarkable pace, I’ll definitely be in line for whatever comes next.

What are your opinions on this matter? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.