Xbox Game Pass Cancellations: Circana Finds Nearly 40 Percent Cite Cost Concerns

Rising costs are a major factor in US gamers cancelling Xbox subscriptions, with 40 percent saying they still liked the services but could no longer afford the fees, according to Circana (Credit: Xbox Instagram Account)

Higher costs are becoming a key reason why US gamers cancel Xbox subscriptions, with 40 percent of recent Xbox Game Pass Essential and PlayStation Plus Essential cancellers saying they could not justify the fees within their budgets, even though they liked the services, according to Circana's Future of Insights for Video Games Consumer Survey.

Subscription gaming has often been marketed as a way for players to access large game libraries without buying individual titles at full price. Over the past few years, services such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus have often been compared with Netflix because they provide subscribers with access to extensive catalogues, regular updates and new releases for a monthly charge.