While PlayStation 5 and PC platforms currently boast larger overall player communities than Xbox, a recent study indicates that Xbox users surpass players on other platforms in one key aspect: the sheer number of games played. This phenomenon is largely attributed to the influence of Game Pass.
According to findings from Ampere Analytics, Xbox gamers averaged nearly six unique titles played in August 2025. This figure is notably higher than the average for Steam players (4.5 games) and PS5 players (3.7 games). Ampere points to the “Game Pass effect” as the primary driver, suggesting that the widespread subscription among Xbox users enables them to readily explore a broader range of games, a trend reflected clearly in the data.
Conversely, the report also highlights that Xbox players generally dedicate less total time to gaming than their PS5 and Steam counterparts. Although this trend isn`t new, Ampere specifically noted August 2025 as a period of significant disparity. Xbox users averaged just 7.7 hours of gameplay, considerably less than the 12.7 hours for PS5 players and 11.9 hours for Steam users.
It`s important to acknowledge that these patterns are subject to fluctuations driven by major game releases each month. For example, the anticipated launch of Black Ops 7, which will be available via Game Pass for Xbox users, is expected to shift playtime statistics across all platforms. Nevertheless, the core dynamic remains consistent: Game Pass empowers Xbox players to explore a significantly wider array of games than those on competing platforms, even if their monthly total playtime is comparatively lower.
Industry Concerns Over Game Pass Model
This analysis surfaces at a period of both significant investment and ongoing debate for the Game Pass subscription model. Despite Xbox`s commitment to making its “largest investment” in Game Pass this year, the service faces criticism from various industry figures. Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden, for example, has voiced concerns that such subscription models could reduce developers to “wage slaves.” Similarly, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has questioned the economic advantages Game Pass offers to game development, and former Xbox executive Shannon Loftis has suggested that the service erodes traditional retail sales.