Former Arkane Studios Founder Calls Game Pass “Unsustainable”

Amidst the recent criticism faced by Microsoft, the co-founder of Arkane Studios, Raphael Colantonio, has pointed out Game Pass as a significant issue that everyone seems to be ignoring or overlooking.

Colantonio argues that the “unsustainable approach, which has been harming the industry for over a decade and is supported by Microsoft’s seemingly endless resources,” will eventually face consequences. He asserts that Game Pass, due to its nature, cannot peacefully coexist with other models; either it will drive out all competition or it will have to retreat.

As a gamer, I completely resonate with Larian Studios’ Colantonio on the topic of unlimited funds in games. Just like him, I’ve always found the concept of infinite money nonsensical and frustrating. It’s disheartening when developers initially reassure us that it won’t affect sales, only to later admit that it indeed does impact gameplay. I mean, isn’t it obvious that it would? It feels like a bait-and-switch tactic at times.

Highlighting a potential advantage, Douse suggested that their platform could offer recognition to smaller teams working on innovative or riskier intellectual properties. However, they found Sony’s approach to lifecycle management more appealing. In response, Colantonio stated that for Game Pass to thrive without causing harm, it is essential that its back catalog be taken into account.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been a part of Game Pass since its grand debut. Admittedly, the number of subscribers has plateaued somewhat over the years. Yet, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, the PC Game Pass subscriptions saw an impressive surge of over 30 percent.

Notably, developers like Rebellion credit Game Pass for the success of their latest release, Atomfall. Pocketpair even pointed out that having a title on Game Pass can be “quite beneficial,” as evidenced by the resounding success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. So, while the overall growth might have tapered off a bit, it’s clear that Game Pass continues to play a significant role in the gaming community.

It’s yet unclear if publishers will eventually offer their games to Game Pass at attractive deals or not. For now, Microsoft continues to add its own titles to the service on day one. Phil Spencer clarified that the company doesn’t aim to replace game ownership with Game Pass, but for further information, you can check out this link.

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2025-07-06 21:41