Multiple reports describe growing internal and industry criticism of Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, particularly from some Xbox studio leadership and external voices. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier says several people in studio leadership inside Xbox “absolutely detest” Game Pass, arguing it devalues games and harms the industry by undermining perceived game value. A former Xbox studio lead, quoted by Windows Central, says day-one inclusion in Game Pass can create an assumption that games cannot sell on their own, leading to what they describe as a “race to zero.”
Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown also calls Game Pass a “good idea” that “didn’t work,” saying it failed to attract enough subscribers to sustain the model. Brown points to Microsoft’s stated goal of reaching 77 million subscribers, contrasting it with a reported figure closer to 30 million, and he links this outcome to studio shutdowns or restructuring. Microsoft CEO Asha Sharma has acknowledged Game Pass as an $80+ billion bet that did not pay off as envisioned. Some sources note Microsoft has already begun changes, including price cuts and removing new Call of Duty titles from day-one Game Pass, with further “windowing” changes discussed as a possible next step.
