I know this isn't really the right thread to discuss it but since it's brought up here, I think services like Game Pass, despite their incredible value, do have a natural ceiling based on how many subscribers such a service could acquire. I think PlayStation Plus's ceiling is somewhere around 50 million subs, which could be reached by the apex of the PS5's lifecycle. Plus is hovering in the 45-47 million range, so it's growth prospects aren't very attainable. Everyone who wants to be subbed to Plus is already subbed to Plus. Now, with Game Pass, there's no theoretical barrier of entry, so the ceiling could be much higher, but it's difficult to ascertain because the service is starting to really explode and we've already seen the service miss Microsoft's growth estimates. The service is growing and I predict it will grow a lot faster during the holiday season, but it's hard for me to see it hit the 100 million mark. Above 50 million? Sure.
Anyway, with that in mind, should Sony pursue a Game Pass-style service? Honestly, I think it's more likely they'll launch a new service that simply combines PS Now with Plus and throws in another benefit like the new anime streaming platform. Now isn't nearly as ubiquitous as either Plus or GP, so I think this service could be more niche than Plus. I think the more casual audience that Microsoft and Sony really wants to grab isn't interested in a subscription service for games when a lot of the games they're already playing is free to play and even more easily accessible. That's why I think Sony's PS Mobile division is going to be comprised of free-to-play service-style mobile games that has PlayStation IP attached to them. That could be Sony's way of reaching the "billions of gamers" they envision, instead of complete PlayStation games available on your phone.
Anyway, with that in mind, should Sony pursue a Game Pass-style service? Honestly, I think it's more likely they'll launch a new service that simply combines PS Now with Plus and throws in another benefit like the new anime streaming platform. Now isn't nearly as ubiquitous as either Plus or GP, so I think this service could be more niche than Plus. I think the more casual audience that Microsoft and Sony really wants to grab isn't interested in a subscription service for games when a lot of the games they're already playing is free to play and even more easily accessible. That's why I think Sony's PS Mobile division is going to be comprised of free-to-play service-style mobile games that has PlayStation IP attached to them. That could be Sony's way of reaching the "billions of gamers" they envision, instead of complete PlayStation games available on your phone.
