Xbox Leaders Call Game Pass Unsustainable After $300 Million Call of Duty Sales Hit
Updated
Updated · TheGamer · Jul 19
Xbox Leaders Call Game Pass Unsustainable After $300 Million Call of Duty Sales Hit
3 articles · Updated · TheGamer · Jul 19
Summary
$300 million in lost Call of Duty sales from day-one launches on Game Pass reportedly helped turn Xbox leadership against the service, which insiders say they view as damaging and unsustainable.
Microsoft then raised prices, shifted day-one releases to the Ultimate tier and reportedly plans to keep future Call of Duty entries off the service, even as Game Pass has been losing subscribers.
Jason Schreier said Xbox studio leaders believe Game Pass devalues games and the wider market, a view echoed publicly by developers including Arkane co-founder Raphael Colantonio and Larian publishing head Michael Douse.
Schreier does not expect Microsoft to shut Game Pass, but sees it moving away from day-one blockbuster releases toward a model closer to PlayStation's library-focused subscription strategy.