Multiple current and former leaders within Xbox's first-party studios reportedly "absolutely detest" Xbox Game Pass, believing the subscription service damages the value of games. Under former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, the company created Xbox Game Pass, which gives subscribers access to brand-new, day one releases at no additional cost. Recent changes in executive leadership are starting to re-evaluate that decision.
Microsoft launched Xbox Game Pass in June 2017, creating an all-you-can-play subscription model much like Netflix, containing everything from first-party AAA blockbusters to third-party releases and tons of smaller independent games. Day-one launches quickly became one of the service's defining features and selling points during a period of Xbox marked by shifting exclusivity plans, studio restructures, and a weaker interest in dedicated console hardware sales. However, putting big-budget game releases on a subscription service that was originally priced at $9.99 a month would create a long-running fan debate over the service's profitability and the price perception of games. New reports suggest that senior figures inside Xbox itself may also share those concerns.
A genre that has been missing from Xbox Game Pass for nine years is finally getting some...
