Is Xbox Game Pass Bad For Developers

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While many love the titles, some are asking, ‘Is Xbox Game Pass bad for the industry?’

Microsoft’s subscription-based service offers gamers day-one titles for just a monthly fee.

But why have developers been coming out against the service, and how can it hurt them?

Xbox Game Pass Bad Long-term

Initially, it’s important to recognize that the validity of the counterarguments against Xbox Game Pass hinges on whether you identify more as a casual player who plays only a few games annually or as a creator in the gaming industry. In the former case, it can be argued that the criticisms against Xbox Game Pass don’t hold water.

According to former Bethesda boss, Pete Hines, many people, including content creators themselves, are experiencing significant challenges due to the current setup of Game Pass. He suggests that these creators are not receiving the appropriate recognition and compensation for their work within this ecosystem.

— Hunter 🎮 (@NextGenPlayer) September 6, 2025

Spending around $70 or even $80 annually for Day One COD editions might seem expensive, but when you consider that for $120 a year, you get access to numerous games (more than just two high-end AAA titles typically priced the same), it’s a great deal!

Currently, you can access both Silksong and Gears Of War through Game Pass, as they’ve only recently been released within the past few days!

Even though you no longer possess the rights to the titles once the subscription ends, you can still access everything included in it. This might be something you wouldn’t usually enjoy or an expense of $60, but with this service, it becomes merely a brief 10-minute download that doesn’t provide value.

For numerous consumers, if they didn’t own it, it’s as if it’s the same as Blockbuster – it doesn’t matter to them. The sentiment of ‘nothing endures for long’, or that anything lasts only more than two years, seems incredibly relatable to these individuals.

But I cannot blame them because have you seen game prices these days!

Feel free to challenge the perspective that Xbox Game Pass is flawed. In fact, one might argue that those who have been in the gaming industry for a long time have contributed significantly to its current state, which isn’t always rosy. So, let’s take a closer look at Xbox Game Pass and see if it deserves the criticism it receives.

While some might argue that Xbox Game Pass is less than perfect, it’s worth considering whether these critics have played a part in creating the current state of the gaming industry – not always a positive one. Let’s explore what Xbox Game Pass has to offer and determine if its criticisms are justified.

Nowadays, every game comes with a Battle Pass, additional purchases, and bothersome skins that take up space on your hard drive. If these developers and publishers don’t seem to care about the cost for you, then why should you be concerned about their profits?

Faustian DLC

Creating games can be challenging, and those who manage to publish a quality game deserve our admiration. However, it’s important to condemn the underhanded consumer-unfriendly tactics that have persisted in the gaming industry for almost a decade. These practices are not deserving of respect.

It’s puzzling to observe former executives criticizing Game Pass. They seem to be missing the point.

Every day we’re advised to shell out more, whether it’s Battle Passes or Microtransactions. Critics argue that we should not grow accustomed to reasonable prices.

It feels like a never-ending cycle of taking without giving back. No.

Gamers are tired of this constant demand for more without reciprocation. Game Pass stands out as pro-consumer, case closed, let’s move forward.

— Jamie Moran (@JamieMoranUK) September 6, 2025

Here’s a more conversational and accessible rephrasing: “Is Xbox Game Pass hurting video games, you might ask? Well, for someone who just enjoys playing Madden without any investments in Oddworld, it probably doesn’t make much of a difference.

In other words, even though some developers may be driven by a decline in sales, it’s essential to consider the potential consequences – a Faustian Bargain implies making a deal with potentially devastating outcomes for short-term gain.

Indeed, it’s quite frustrating that games have become so costly. However, if more people were to subscribe to Game Pass, not owning games could potentially become the common practice, making gaming more affordable for many.

Eventually, they might design consoles under the concept that ownership of game titles, or indeed any games themselves, is not inherent from the start.

Instead, think of Pass as a trial service that allows you to test out items before deciding to purchase them permanently.

It’s a mystery to me how Microsoft manages to turn a profit given that Doom: The Dark Ages flopped upon its initial release on Game Pass, negatively impacting Microsoft’s own earnings since Zenimax was the game’s publisher.

A more natural way of rephrasing that sentence could be: So, the main question here is, how do they manage to earn profit with this service if it seems they’re actually losing money by providing it themselves?

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2025-09-08 23:03