That's both a fair observation, and an interesting consideration. Microsoft has gone all in on Game Pass, whereas everyone else isn't. It makes sense they're dominating the space because, frankly, they're the only folks trying to.
With that said, I think Microsoft is positioning itself with a level of foresight we haven't seen since the original Xbox Live launched. I believe they're ahead of everyone in understanding a shift in consumer spending that's only just beginning. When video game subscriptions rule the landscape the same way video streaming does today, Microsoft will be so deeply entrenched, with so much content, across so many platforms, that "Game Pass" will be synonymous with game streaming and competing with them in that space will be all but impossible. We're already phrasing things as "Sony's Game Pass" because Microsoft own the space they're carving out. If - and it's a big if - they can get Game Pass to be profitable, I don't see how things ever go back.
Very optimistic viewpoint; I think it'll mostly hold out as true but a big part of that will come down to the content. If Microsoft can get enough high-quality content consistently and establish that early enough before other competitors really jump into the fold. I don't think they're there yet, but they could start getting there depending on how RedFall and Starfield perform this year (and how well they can maintain momentum for them post-launch. Also if they can recover Halo Infinite in any significant way would help a lot).
One thing for sure though is that Microsoft's sheer size and wealth of money & resources will definitely see them through once others begin competing more strongly in this space. I would almost want to say they invested too much into a future tech too early, except that's only really applicable to a company which otherwise doesn't have the money to weather losses or modest growth for a number of years.
Basically, they aren't SEGA in that regard, and I'd of loved if SEGA had MS money (or even just Sony or Nintendo money) during the Dreamcast era.
I dont think CoD is gonna be the nuclear warhead for leverage people think its gonna be. Microsoft are already making huge concessions to push this deal through
It's not even just that; I honestly don't think the individual CODs will go into GamePass. At least, not new.
It's a business reason IMO. COD sells truckloads on everything at full price every single year; why cut into that for subscription service growth when the annual revenue from that subscription service probably doesn't even bring in near 2x the revenue sales of that game does at full price? They'll definitely put Warzone perks in GP, they'll most likely even offer DLC and Season pack discounts through GP subs, maybe even exclusive skins and weapons, too. The core fans will gravitate towards COD on Xbox and PC because of that.
But the individual releases in GP on Day 1? Don't see it happening. But I'm also one of those guys who feels the ABK acquisition is more a Microsoft move to boost overall revenue, and will have some benefits for GamePass and Xbox. New COD releases in GP Day 1, though, most likely isn't one of those benefits.
Take your fanboy glasses off and stop pulling numbers out your ass.
Man I just can't catch a break. Green rats calling me blue, blue rats calling me green. I'm so confused!!
But seriously tho, what's so asspull about those numbers? You do know not every person subscribed to GP is staying subbed for the whole year, right? That not everyone is paying for GPU or even regular GP? That at least a decent chunk are probably on the $1 conversion plan or doing free trials, or are using MS Rewards points to pay off their subs (or at least some months of it), right?
I don't see where it's so unrealistic to assume they're probably bringing in roughly $2 billion/year in revenue for GP subs. Actual profits from those subs would be lower, probably in-line with their profit margins for Xbox versus their revenues there, so likely $150 million - $250 million/year or something like that (since MS doesn't provide net profits for Xbox, we kind of just have to use PlayStation's revenues and profits as a comparison).
Unless you have some other numbers that prove something else?