Microsoft’s all-you-can-play gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, has reportedly surpassed 35 million subscribers — marking another milestone in its eight-year journey.
An Unannounced Milestone
As of mid-2025, Xbox Game Pass has over 35 million subscribers, according to a LinkedIn profile of Microsoft Program Manager Kevin K., recently spotted by Twitter user @bogorad222. While the company has not made an official announcement, this figure is consistent with earlier growth reports and reflects a steady increase since Microsoft’s last public update in February 2024, which listed 34 million users.
Silent Growth Amid Changing Strategies
June 1, 2025, marked Xbox Game Pass’s eighth anniversary. For the first five years, Microsoft frequently shared subscriber milestones. But as growth began to stabilize, those regular updates became less common. The most recent official number came in January 2022, when Microsoft announced 25 million subscribers.
Since then, instead of giving total subscriber numbers, Microsoft has shifted to emphasizing percentage-based growth for tiers like PC Game Pass, suggesting a more segmented marketing focus.
A Look at What’s Driving Growth
Xbox Game Pass remains a central pillar of Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem, offering:
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Access to a vast library of over 100 games
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Day-one releases from Xbox Game Studios
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Cloud gaming across devices
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Seamless support for both PC and console players
Even without frequent public updates, Game Pass continues to evolve, thanks to high-profile studio acquisitions, expanded PC and mobile support, and deeper integration with Windows.
What This Means for the Industry
The 35 million subscriber mark — even if unofficial — places Game Pass firmly at the top of the subscription gaming model. Competitors like PlayStation Plus and Nvidia GeForce Now still trail in total reach and content variety. Microsoft’s long-term strategy is clearly paying off, even as the company becomes more conservative in sharing exact metrics.
Xbox Game Pass’s quiet rise to over 35 million subscribers shows sustained consumer interest, even without constant PR fanfare. Whether Microsoft will formally confirm this milestone remains to be seen, but all signs point to steady, strategic growth.