New research from Ampere Analysis highlights differences in gaming behavior across platforms. Xbox players appear to explore a wider range of games than their PlayStation and Steam counterparts. In August 2025, the average Xbox player engaged with 5.7 different games. Steam users played an average of 4.5 titles, while PlayStation users played 3.7, a 35% lower figure compared to Xbox. The data includes all users, including the platform’s 34 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
PlayStation owners have consistently played fewer games than Xbox users since Ampere Analysis began tracking this behavior in August 2022. The trend indicates that Xbox players are more inclined to try multiple games, even if their engagement per game is comparatively lower.
Xbox Players Try More Games
Engagement Patterns Differ Across Platforms
While Xbox users try more games, their average playtime per title is lower than on other platforms. PlayStation users spend around 12.7 hours on a single game, Steam users 11.9 hours, and Xbox users 7.7 hours. Engagement on Xbox tends to spike around major releases. For example, during the launch month of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the average playtime per user increased to 10.4 hours.
Despite Xbox Game Pass titles accounting for only 42% of total playtime in August 2025, this share rises above 50% during major releases, suggesting that players still purchase games directly alongside their subscriptions.
Xbox Game Pass Continues to Grow Amid Price Changes
The growth of Xbox Game Pass remains notable, even as the service recently increased the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by 50%. The subscription service now serves a large, diverse audience, reflecting a mix of players who balance trying multiple games with dedicated playtime on select titles.
Xbox Players Try More Games
Implications for Gaming and Subscriptions
The data suggests that Xbox’s ecosystem encourages exploration of a variety of games, particularly with the support of subscription services like Game Pass. At the same time, platform-specific engagement metrics show that players on PlayStation and Steam tend to invest more time in individual titles. These differences highlight the unique dynamics of player behavior across gaming platforms and provide insights for developers, publishers, and subscription services.
Source: GameDevReports
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many games do Xbox players play on average?
A: In August 2025, the average Xbox player played 5.7 different games, higher than PlayStation (3.7) and Steam (4.5).
Q: How much time do players spend per game on each platform?
A: Xbox users spend an average of 7.7 hours per game, Steam users 11.9 hours, and PlayStation users 12.7 hours.
Q: How does Xbox Game Pass affect player engagement?
A: Game Pass titles accounted for 42% of total Xbox playtime in August 2025, increasing above 50% during major releases.
Q: Has Xbox Game Pass increased in price recently?
A: Yes, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate recently increased by 50%, reflecting higher demand and a growing subscriber base of 34 million.
Q: Do Xbox players buy games directly despite Game Pass?
A: Yes, while Game Pass titles account for a significant portion of playtime, many players still purchase games individually, particularly during major releases.
