Ctrl+Alt+Delete: Why Steam needs to copy the Game Pass model

OPINION: Microsoft'south acquisition of Activision Blizzard looks prepare to have a seismic impact on the gaming industry, but while about of the focus has been on how it could affect PlayStation, there's a big chance information technology will also accept major consequences for the likes of Steam.

Steam is currently the leading digital storefront for PC gaming, and while Epic Games Store has recently been on the rise every bit a competitor, it'south yet to fifty-fifty come close to reaching a similar number of active users.

Steam revealed back in 2020 that it had 120 million monthly active players, while Epic revealed its storefront had 58 1000000 monthly active users in 2021. This shows that Steam is comfortably the most popular PC platform right now.

Merely a new challenger has entered the band: Microsoft'due south Game Pass. For those unaware, this is a subscription service that gives you access to a massive library of games for a monthly fee – it's often been described every bit the 'Netflix of gaming'.

Microsoft recently revealed that Game Pass currently has 25 million subscribers, although information technology'south worth pointing out that number combines both the PC and Xbox (and even smartphone) user base. Such a effigy won't be worrying Steam just yet, although that could soon change post-obit the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

In the near future, every game series in the Activision Blizzard acquisition will be available through Game Pass. That includes Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Tony Hawk and more. Those franchises join the likes of The Elderberry Scrolls, Doom, Fallout, Halo, Forza, Gears and Fable nether the Xbox umbrella.

Of grade, it'due south important to remember that all of those games volition likely exist available via Steam too, as in that location won't be any exclusivity issues similar with PlayStation, but why bother paying £50 or more on these games via Steam when you can pay £7.99 per month via Game Pass instead?

Equally Xbox's portfolio continues to grow, information technology's becoming far more appealing to sign upwardly to the Game Laissez passer subscription rather than paying high upfront fees to buy games individually. Don't get me incorrect, digital storefronts will always be around – merely like how you can all the same buy films rather than signing upward to Netflix – but there's a practiced chance that Steam could start to see a decline in sales for some of the highest contour game franchises.

Just there is a solution to this outcome for Valve, every bit information technology could launch its very own subscription service to take on Game Laissez passer direct. Information technology wouldn't need to abandon its incredibly successful storefront – just as Xbox hasn't ditched the Microsoft Shop – only could offering it as an boosted pick.

Valve is already in a great position to imitate the Game Pass model, since it already has an established working relationship with all of the major game publishers. And while information technology hasn't got as many outset-party game franchises like Microsoft, the likes of Half-Life, Portal and Left 4 Dead are still hugely pop.

Having the option of a Steam Pass would besides make the likes of the Steam Deck even more than of a tempting purchase, helping to boost hardware sales equally well every bit getting a consistent income from its user base of operations.

Valve could even include VR games in its subscription service, going head-to-head with Viveport. That would be particularly handy for Valve since it already owns the Alphabetize VR headset. And with Half-Life Alyx being one of the top rated VR games currently available, it would immediately make the Steam Laissez passer a more enticing option compared to HTC's Viveport.

With all things considered, it makes so much sense for Steam to imitate Microsoft's Game Pass model that I really do call back it's simply a matter of time until a Steam Pass arrives. In fact, I can see many other companies jumping on the bandwagon. PlayStation is said to be working on a Project Spartacus service to tackle Game Pass, while Nintendo is already offering NES, SNES and N64 games via a pay-monthly model, with Game Boy games rumoured to arrive later this year.

It'southward inevitable that the gaming industry volition get downwards the same route equally Tv streaming apps, with subscription services offering consumer-friendly value. Then Valve is highly likely to adopt this model eventually, simply it's arguably of import to act now earlier Microsoft's Game Pass gains momentum and starts threatening to displace Steam as the go-to PC platform.

Ctrl+Alt+Delete is our weekly computing-focussed opinion column where we delve deeper into the world of computers, laptops, components, peripherals and more. Find it on Trusted Reviews every Saturday afternoon.