Data from USA sales tracker Circana notes that in April 2023 subscription spending increased by just two per cent year-over-year. While this does represent some growth, it demonstrates how the business model is beginning to reach saturation – at least, until something significant changes. Sony has persistently hit a ceiling with its own subscription PS Plus, which frequently tops out at around 50 million members, although the Japanese giant has successfully raised the average revenue earned per user with the introduction of PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium. Microsoft, meanwhile, hasn’t provided an update on Game Pass’ total subscribers in some time.
Obviously this doesn’t mean gaming subscriptions are going away: they’re now a crucial corner of the market, and will continue to be tidy earners for platform holders like Sony and Microsoft. But it’s clear that, at least right now, they’re not the disruptor they were originally positioned to be. Analyst Mat Piscatella notes that, despite stalling subscriptions, traditional full-price game sales are performing exceedingly well – especially on digital storefronts like the PS Store, which are generally preferred to brick-and-mortar these days.
[source twitter.com]
