The Biggest Critics Of Xbox Game Pass May Be Inside Xbox
Gamespot
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Xbox Game Pass used to be hailed as the "best deal" in gaming, but it started to lose its luster following a https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-lost-millions-of-subscribers-after-massive-price-hike-in-2025/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">steep subscription price increase several months back--that is still higher than what it used to be https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-pass-gets-price-drop-new-call-of-duty-games-no-longer-included/1100-6539523/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">even after a decrease--and shifting membership tiers.
Some of Xbox's leaders aren't too high on Game Pass either, especially after it proved to be a disruptive influence on Microsoft's biggest franchise, Call of Duty.
According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, several people within Xbox see Game Pass as a "detriment" to the video game industry.
"There are a lot of people out there in studio leadership within Xbox who absolutely detest Game Pass. [They] think it has destroyed the value of their games, think it has taken away the value from all games in general and has been a detriment to the games industry in those people's view, because of how it devalues games," Schreier said on the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCwOK61Lf80" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Triple Click podcast.
That statement was backed up by a former Xbox studio lead, who added that Game Pass had devalued their work. "Giving games away for 'free' in Game Pass from day one sends a message to consumers that the games don't have inherent market value.
It almost creates an assumption that these titles could not sell on their own," the source said to https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/some-xbox-studio-leads-reportedly-detest-game-pass-so-why-did-xbox-push-ahead-with-it-it-felt-like-a-race-to-zero" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Windows Central. "It felt like a race to zero."
Another Xbox lead added that while Game Pass was designed to be a stable source of revenue for games in an era where live-service titles dominate, Microsoft's opaque engagement formula made it hard for studios to stay motivated.
For a time, Game Pass was a lifeline for studios that would release titles that would often go under the radar of players, but things have changed recently for the subscription's business model.
Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown also https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-pass-was-a-good-idea-but-it-didnt-work-forza-horizon-5-creative-director-says/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">gave his thoughts on Game Pass, saying that while it was a good idea, it failed to reach the lofty subscriber goals that it was aiming for.
The biggest shift is that Call of Duty is https://www.gamespot.com/articles/activision-promotes-call-of-duty-mw4-by-telling-you-its-not-on-game-pass/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">no longer a day-one launch through Game Pass, as the service took a bite out of direct sales.
Schreier has speculated that Microsoft could make even more changes to the day-one model of Game Pass, especially at a time when Xbox is aiming to become a more profitable arm of the company.
A new report also claimed that Game Pass has been an https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-spent-80-billion-on-its-bet-for-xbox-game-pass-it-did-not-work/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">$80 billion gamble that hasn't panned out the way Microsoft envisioned, and Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said that decisions by the previous Xbox leadership https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-xbox-ceo-admits-game-pass-bet-has-not-worked-out/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">did not help to grow the service meaningfully.