PS Plus/Xbox Game Pass and other subscriptions set to grow the most in 2025, driven by rising prices and new subscribers

PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass and other game subscriptions have seen significant growth in 2025, driven by price increases and the number of new subscribers.

PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass and other game subscriptions saw the biggest growth in 2025, driven by price increases and an influx of new subscribers.

In an interview with the creator of the Xbox Expansion Pass, Matt Piscatella, senior director and video game industry consultant at Circana (formerly NPD), revealed that PS Plus, Xbox Game Pass and other game subscriptions saw the largest growth in the US video game market in 2025. He explained that while the total number of players and hours of interaction remained relatively stable, spending and subscription revenue were relatively stable.

“We are at about $60.7 billion in terms of total spending in the U.S.,” Piscatella said, adding that the market was up 1.5% over last year and the standout category was subscriptions.

The subscription category includes services such as Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, World of Warcraft, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Nintendo Switch Online.Piscatella said the growth wasn't just due to new users."It's not just because more players signed up. There were a lot of price increases and subscriptions last year. So there's some sort of combination."

The analyst acknowledged that multiple price hikes on key services like Game Pass have pushed up monthly costs, with top-tier subscription plans reaching price points that some consumers find intimidating, but suggested the strategy appears to be working for now.he explained.In other words, even if some players cancel, the higher revenue per user can offset the loss."So far it seems to be working."

However, Piscaella also raised concerns about broader market volatility.Hardware prices and availability can significantly change the investment value comparison.As computer and PC components continue to evolve, and some devices see notable price increases elsewhere, the economics of gaming access can change dramatically.subscription services, especially those that offer cloud access, are still attractive despite the high fees."The value proposition can change dramatically if consoles suddenly exceed a thousand dollars because of the problem of parts."