Microsoft is making moves to draw more PC gamers to its Netflix-like Xbox Game Pass subscription service. The company recently launched a program that allows existing PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to share 14-day trials with up to five friends.
Prior to this program, the only way to sample PC Game Pass was through a $1 trial which unfortunately ended in late March 2023. Since then, gamers wanting to try the service had to pay for a full month or hunt for a promotional card that offered a short trial.
PC Game Pass is a library of over 400 games for PC that includes titles from Microsoft, Bethesda, EA, and third-party studios. Subscriptions also offer additional in-game perks when you link your Microsoft account to other services, such as a Riot Games account. Like Netflix, new games are constantly added to the catalog, with others periodically leaving.
The current promotion seems aimed at drawing more PC subscribers to the Xbox Game Pass service, tied to the launch of co-op vampire-themed shooter Redfall. In an interview last fall with The Verge, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer noted that while console subscriber growth had begun to slow, PC growth continues to climb. Figures released by Microsoft in October 2022 showed a 159 percent increase in PC Game Pass subscriptions.
Current subscribers can find Friend Referral invitations on the Game Pass Home screen, both for console and the Xbox app on PC, as well as on Xbox.com. If you’re on the receiving end of a code, and find that you like PC Game Pass, you can use this trick to subscribe for half the cost. Just let the trial run out first, then follow the guide’s instructions to lock in that cheaper rate for up to three years.
With this new program, Microsoft is hoping to expand its subscriber base by incentivizing current subscribers to share the platform with their friends. This not only allows existing subscribers to spread the word about the platform, but also offers new users the opportunity to experience a range of PC games without having to commit to a full month’s subscription fee.
The launch of the co-op vampire-themed shooter Redfall, which is available exclusively on Xbox Game Pass, provides a great opportunity to showcase the service to a wider audience. By offering 14-day trials to friends, current subscribers can introduce their friends to the game and the service, while at the same time helping to grow the Xbox Game Pass community.
This approach is reminiscent of Netflix’s successful referral program, which has been a key driver of the streaming giant’s growth. By tapping into the power of social networks and word-of-mouth marketing, Netflix has been able to attract millions of new subscribers over the years. Microsoft is clearly hoping to replicate this success with its own referral program for Xbox Game Pass.
Overall, this new program is a smart move by Microsoft to attract more PC gamers to its subscription service. By leveraging the power of social networks, the company is able to reach a wider audience and promote the service to those who may not have considered it otherwise. With the launch of Redfall and other exclusive titles on the horizon, it will be interesting to see how many new subscribers the program is able to attract.
