There's some kind of threshold of # of subscriptions and $ of subscription people are willing to be tolerant of.
Like most people were ok with Netflix/Prime when they were the only two in town and it cost like $20-$25 for both.
Now there's how many different streaming services? You don't even have an easy way to know which provider has what anymore either.
Microsoft currently sells 4 different passes... and I have no idea whatsoever which gives me what... And the prices range from $14 to $25 CAD, which is the upper limit of what people want to pay in total subscription cost alone.
People get games with Netflix and Prime on top of their existing subscription and I'm sure most people don't play or even know about them. lol
I think that's how it went down for most people.
I remember getting free games with Gold back on the 360 and One. Eventually they became unplayable without the subscription. Kinda enshitified.
There's just something about your progression being tied to a subscription that makes you want to invest less in the game.