"The big question going forward is if Game Pass can be a sustainable product off console and how best they can reach this audience. At the very least that's going to require a lower entry cost (Essential) and experimentation with cloud only, ad supported, or mobile-first offerings," he said.

Microsoft has kicked off October by announcing a significant price rise for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which comes just over a year after the last price rise for the subscription service.

October is stacked with new adventures on PC, from big-name RPGs to inventive indie experiments. Some are brand-new, others are long-awaited PC arrivals, and a few are launching alongside console versions on the same day.

Microsoft is providing details about the changes and upgrades coming with Xbox's September 2025 update, adding some brand-new features.