Moon Studios' chief executive criticized Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass strategy, arguing that the subscription model has struggled because of quality issues in its software catalog. The remark serves as a rare piece of industry criticism of the service and is especially notable because it originates from a studio that previously worked with Microsoft and is intensely familiar with the Xbox Game Pass ecosystem.
According to several reports that surfaced online in late spring, Xbox is planning another round of "significant" layoffs for July 2026. The planned workforce reductions, which are expected to affect much of Microsoft's gaming business, have prompted widespread industry discussion. Thomas Mahler, CEO and creative director of Ori developer Moon Studios, has been among the established industry figures weighing in on the situation throughout June 2026, expressing sympathy for those who may be affected while offering his views on the broader circumstances that led to this point.
Microsoft casually confirms two more Xbox Game Pass titles for July 2026, with the lineup for the upcoming month now spanning six games in total.
In a recent social media post, Mahler argued that Xbox Game Pass "could've worked" had it attracted a large enough base of regular users. In...
