Gen Z Puts Ownership on Pause as Game Pass Reshapes How We Buy Games

A IGN/Dentsu study reports 62% of players no longer buy full-price games, signaling a shift from ownership to subscription-based discovery among Gen Z. The piece argues Game Pass could benefit by aligning with younger audiences’ comfort with subscriptions and by delivering strong first-party and indie titles, effectively acting as a discovery engine. While not everyone will abandon owning games, rising prices and industry trends provide context for why subscriptions may increasingly shape how we buy and experience games.