Update: An official representative for Xbox responded to Game Rant, reiterating Phil Spencer's statement, saying, "Xbox Game Pass has more than 18 million members as of January 2021."
The success of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service has been undeniable. Users are able to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for an affordable price and gain access to a library of games that includes Xbox platform exclusives on the day of their launch. Microsoft has made it a core pillar of its Xbox brand, acquiring studios so that there's a constant stream of fresh content available for subscribers. And if Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick is to be believed, it's working -- Xbox Game Pass has potentially crossed 30 million subscribers.
Zelnick was discussing subscription services during an episode of TheGrill podcast with Xbox boss Phil Spencer. While Zelnick was trying to explain Take-Two's decision not to support a subscription service like Game Pass, he took a moment to compliment Spencer's work and Xbox Game Pass' current subscription numbers. "You've got around 30 mil subs, Phil. Something like that?" is Zelnick's comment to Spencer, giving Spencer the opportunity to glow about Game Pass' success.
Spencer, to his credit, doesn't confirm the number. He says that the last publically shared number for Xbox Game Pass' subscriber count is 18 million. Zelnick follows up Spencer's correction with a smirk, saying, "For some reason, I thought it was 30. It's more than 18." Even after the podcast's host, Sharon Waxman, asks, "But it's really 30?" Spencer simply smiles and allows Zelnick to continue his train of thought.
It ultimately isn't clear whether or not Zelnick's statement that Xbox Game Pass is approaching or has passed 30 million subscribers is accurate or not. He obviously said the number for a reason and, as a CEO, he wouldn't say something that is completely made up. He could have been exaggerating the number to make his friend look good, of course. It might have been an executive-level joke. It could also be accurate.
The last time that Xbox reported its Xbox Game Pass subscriber total was in January 2021, at the end of the month. As Spencer said, Microsoft had confirmed that subscribers had crossed 18 million total. It does seem unlike, if not impossible, for Xbox Game Pass to climb 12 million over 9 months. But Xbox did have an exceptional E3 2021 showcase, anticipation for Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 is high, and Bethesda's acquisition has introduced a variety of exciting games to Xbox Game Pass' catalog.
If Microsoft truly has nearly 30 mullion Xbox Game Pass subscribers, it's likely that it would love to share that information. Though it'd be amazing for Microsoft to have crossed both 20 million and 25 million without saying something earlier. Regardless, expect updated numbers for Xbox Game Pass in time.
Source: TheGrill