Square Enix made a big splash earlier this year when it decided to put much-anticipated co-op shooter Outriders on Xbox Game Pass at launch, and the company has been delighted with the results of doing so.
Speaking in a recent financial results briefing (transcribed by VGC), Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda praised the Xbox Game Pass service for helping to build a hefty install base for the title from day one:
“In regards to the response to Outriders, while there were slight issues with bugs and the like on launch, we believe it has gotten off to a good start as a new IP. In addition, we have been pleasantly surprised as the digital sales ratio for the title have been very high, and the number of active users has also beaten our expectations."
“We believe that our decision to make Outriders available with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass as soon as the title launched also worked in our favor. (to build an installed base for the game)."
Outriders has certainly proved popular with fans since its release on Xbox Game Pass back in early April, surpassing 3.5 million unique players (across all platforms) in its first month alone, adding up to 120 million hours of game time.
Ultimately, it's ended up being one of many major releases launching with Game Pass in 2021. What a service!
Have you enjoyed Outriders with Xbox Game Pass? Let us know your thoughts on it down below.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 21
I hope EA is reading this.
Love hearing from big publishers to indie developers about the success of game pass.
I enjoyed my time with Outriders. Unfortunately for me my living situation changed and where I currently live doesn't have good enough internet for online games.
Even though I'm not fond of the game (gave up after 4 hours) it's great to see praise from square enix
Another great example to why gamepass is perfect for multiplayer games
Although Battlefield 5 is pretty much dead for some reason
@uptownsoul there has to be some kind of payout after how many players and hours they have played, don't you think?
Agree. I would not have bought it due to risk and then when people started complaining about it. Well that would have stopped me after.
Battlefield 2042 is missing a trick by not doing this
There's no denying Game Pass is great value, but the number of articles on this site constantly with "so and so developer really likes Game Pass", etc. It's like you guys are on the take from Microsoft.
@HungryHungryHomer A lot of people think Game Pass is "ruining gaming" and "hurts developers" so personally I appreciate these articles. Nothing more annoying than people complaining about things that aren't even true.
@StylesT Battlefield will still get millions of buyers without gamepass, outriders wouldn't of
Back 4 Blood might see the same effect. Next up, Ubisoft!
@lostfields
From what Phil Spencer has said in interviews, the deals vary between games and publishers.
@uptownsoul
Exactly. Xbox has Halo Infinite, so why pay crazy money to put a competing game in the service?
I think they just wanted the marketing deal as Sony have COD, the direct rival.
@everynowandben
It definitely benefits us the consumer no doubt. But should prices jump to say $25 a month, I have a feeling attitudes will change. I'm just still skeptical of this business model because it defies conventional logic imo. Especially the whole people are buying the games even more because they are on Game Pass, why would people essentially pay for the game twice? Developers raving tells me MS is doling out generous compensations that I would imagine won't last forever.
I guess ride the wave as long as we can.
@uptownsoul here’s the thing. You make the game free to play that’s on EA’s dime. This is on MS’s dime and EA still gets to sell it on the larger platform holders’s machine.
I didn't like this game when I tried it. It was taking too long to get into putting me in cutscene every fee minutes. I might have to give it another crack though if people are saying it is good.
@Alpha_Pulse After you choose your class in the game the cutscenes become rarer and shorter.
Only negative I have about the game is that I cant talk with friends on other platforms. I wish it was an ingame solution for this.
@The_New_Butler
Re-release Evolve on Gamepass with 4K and use Microsoft’s Auto HDR and FPS boost. I would give it a try..
@thenewguy might have to give it another go then. Cheers!
@Alpha_Pulse Yeah. Fair warning though. The game is far more enjoyable in co-op than solo. Enjoy!
@everynowandben I agree it's good to highlight when this is a success for developers.
Outriders certainly had a lot of engagement and is a great example but it's not one size fit's all, I'm sure some developers have not felt the same.
Also it's worth baring in mind Microsoft are still in the "acquisition of users" stage of a subscription model. i.e. they will be investing more, and taking more of a hit, than they might do once the service hits ubiquity. Just because it is a good deal for dev's (and us) now doesn't mean it always will be.
Lastly what sort of knock on effect does it have on other games? I know I purchase less games now I have Game Pass, particularly Indie games, do we really want to get to a stage where Microsoft holds all the cards and can dictate terms to indie Devs e.g. Come to Game Pass or see your sales struggle.
I'm not saying I have the answers, but they are interesting questions, these things don't happen in a bubble.
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