Rising subscription costs are becoming a bigger factor in why US gamers are walking away from services such as Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online.
More than 40% of US players who recently cancelled Xbox Game Pass Essential, PlayStation Plus Essential or Nintendo Switch Online identified cost as a primary reason for their decision, according to Circana senior director and video game analyst Mat Piscatella.
The figures come from Circana’s Future of Insights for Video Games Consumer Survey, with Piscatella sharing the findings on Bluesky, according to GamesHub. “Cost is becoming a stronger driver of US cancellations to Xbox Game Pass Essential, PS Plus Essential and Nintendo Switch Online,” Piscatella wrote on Bluesky. “Over 40% of those cancelling in the US cite cost as a primary driver, higher than seen in Q1.”
Microsoft lowered the price of its highest-tier Game Pass subscription in April but also confirmed that new Call of Duty releases would no longer be available through the service on their launch day. The increase has been particularly noticeable for Nintendo’s subscription service. That difference is notable considering Nintendo Switch Online is significantly cheaper than the other two services. The growing concern over subscription costs comes as Xbox has made changes to its Game Pass offering.
Among those who cancelled Xbox Game Pass Essential and PS Plus Essential, 40% pointed to cost, compared with 37% in the first quarter. For Nintendo Switch Online, the proportion climbed from 40% to 50%. The subscription costs $19.99 annually, while Game Pass Essential and PS Plus Essential each cost roughly $9.99 per month.
