While the Xbox Series X/S debuted this holiday to respectable success, hardware sales certainly haven't been the moneymaker for Microsoft in 2020. Games themselves brought in significant revenue, but Microsoft continually focuses on its service approach with Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft's gaming subscription service has increased to 500+ titles available right now, across Xbox, PC, and Android. Now, in 2021, Microsoft will likely be searching for and orchestrating new ways to expand the Xbox Game Pass offering even further. Even though the gaming subscription has more than quadrupled in size in the last few years, Xbox Game Pass can only get bigger from here.
Assuming Xbox Game Pass does intend to expand even further beyond its already far-reaching library, there's many different services that could partner with Microsoft. If anything, the EA Play partnership would be the start of an ambitious expansion plan, partnering with other game subscriptions, game streaming platforms, or even expanding to multimedia options like Disney+ and Funimation. Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has already teased "big things" are coming to Xbox Game Pass this year. Granted that's just a small tease, but given all the different partnerships that Game Pass has dipped into, Xbox Game Pass could become a much bigger service in 2021.
Partnering with Ubisoft+ to Bolster the Game Pass Library
One of the latest rumors for Xbox Game Pass would make the most sense in terms of expanding Microsoft's service further. Ubisoft+, announced as Uplay+ back in 2019, is a separate gaming subscription strictly for the expansive Ubisoft catalogue. About as big as the Xbox Game Pass' original lineup of 100 games, hardcore fans of Ubisoft's biggest franchises could subscribe and play new and classic titles from the storied game publisher. This initially started as a rumor towards the end of 2020, and hasn't been confirmed by any sources, only corroborated by Windows Central which had reported a similar story.
Much like EA Play's partnership with Xbox Game Pass, bringing in Ubisoft+ to Game Pass (whether it's a portion of games or the full catalogue) would be equally huge. Partnering with even more game companies to significantly bolster the Game Pass library is exactly what the EA Play partnership has hinted at all along.
Some Kind of Integration Between PC Game Pass and Humble Bundle
On that same note, an interesting partnership for the PC side of Xbox Game Pass would be working with Humble Bundle. Most PC gamers will know Humble Bundle all too well, as it's often holding numerous sales on the Humble Store as well as a monthly game subscription, all in service to charity. Humble Choice in particular provides around 10-12 games per month, typically highlighting lesser known indie games as well as some bigger titles.
It'd be interesting to see how it could integrate with Xbox Game Pass. Whether that's just a few games from Humble Choice ending up on Game Pass, or Microsoft ambitiously allowing subscribers to choose which games players get, like on Humble Bundle itself. Humble Bundle is typically platform agnostic, so nothing exclusive would likely come out of the partnership, but it'd be interesting to see some degree of choice on Game Pass. Not to mention this would be another win for PC gamers on Game Pass.
Unifying Game Streaming on PC by Partnering with GeForce Now
Alongside PC gaming, game streaming is becoming a more viable alternative for those who have weaker hardware. One of the most popular options for game streaming on PC is Nvidia's GeForce Now, a game streaming service that functions based off already-purchased games on Steam, GoG, etc. Players have to set up and sync their existing game libraries, but then they're free to stream whatever games they own direct-to-device at theoretically pristine graphical performance, depending on internet speed. It's a completely different system compared to Google Stadia and Amazon Luna, which are storefront-based subscription services.
Now, to be fair, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is planning to expand Xbox Cloud gaming to PC devices in Spring 2021. However, for PC gaming, it'd be interesting to see Xbox Game Pass combine the two services into one unified Xbox client. PC applications like Steam can already add non-Steam games to the library, so a similar unification of game streaming systems would be convenient for those using GeForce Now and also subscribed to Xbox Game Pass.
Expanding Xbox Cloud Gaming Beyond Console/PC Hardware
Outside of dedicated gaming hardware or PC streaming, one partnership that's seeming more and more likely is with conventional streaming tech. Phil Spencer has mentioned in previous interviews the desire to expand Xbox Cloud gaming beyond platforms like Xbox, mobile, or PC. Whether it's through a dedicated streaming stick like with Google Stadia and Chromecast, or an Xbox app that works on any smart TV/streaming hardware, Xbox Cloud gaming could expand even further.
The idea that any piece of streaming hardware could handle Xbox games is certainly plausible, to some extent. Cloud gaming already functions based on Microsoft's Azure data centers and has a browser-based version coming in 2021, so bringing an Xbox app to a Roku stick or Roku TV wouldn't be out of the question. Plus, it could extend Microsoft's game streaming presence into direct competition with Google Stadia and Amazon Luna.
Microsoft has also orchestrated other limited-time deals with streaming services like Disney+ and Funimation, so it's not averse to working with streaming services. Either way, there's plenty of avenues where Xbox Game Pass could expand in the coming year. Assuming the subscription price doesn't increase drastically as a result, Xbox Game Pass may become an even better value in 2021.