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Xbox Game Pass has long been regarded as one of the biggest advantages of Microsoft's ecosystem. It was precisely thanks to the regular addition of games from third-party publishers that the service gained millions of subscribers worldwide. However, recent reports suggest the company's strategy may be changing. According to people familiar with the industry, Microsoft has halted talks on new deals with independent studios. For now, it's unclear whether this is only a temporary decision or the start of a larger reorganization of Game Pass.
Microsoft reportedly halted new contracts with external studios
The information comes from the podcast The Business of Video Games, on which former Modern Wolf head Fernando Rizo and Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani spoke. According to Rizo, during recent meetings with industry representatives he heard that Microsoft had suddenly halted ongoing negotiations to add new games to Xbox Game Pass. Some studios were already in the final stages of talks, but the process was reportedly halted unexpectedly. Rizo emphasized that, in his view, Microsoft is currently reassessing the service's direction. He also added that one of the deals his studio had signed earlier might have been among the last concluded before the negotiations were paused. So far Microsoft has not officially commented on these reports. It's also unclear how many developers may have been affected by this decision. If the reports prove true, this could mean significant changes in how the Game Pass library is developed. However, it's worth remembering that these are currently only unofficial reports from industry insiders.
Game Pass may undergo a major reorganization
In recent months there has been a lot of speculation about the future of Xbox Game Pass. According to earlier leaks, Microsoft is considering creating a new subscription tier that would include only games developed by studios under Xbox Game Studios. At the same time, the company has increasingly stressed that Game Pass is primarily intended to attract new users in more price-sensitive markets. Microsoft also recently changed the rules for Call of Duty launches, limiting access to new entries in some subscription tiers. There are also reports that the PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass offerings could be merged in the future. All of this could indicate that the current pause in negotiations is just part of a larger overhaul of the service. For players, however, it means a period of uncertainty about which upcoming releases will be available on the subscription. Until Microsoft presents official plans, all information should be treated as speculation. The coming months should show which direction one of the gaming industry's most important subscriptions will take.
Unofficial reports suggest Microsoft has halted talks to add games from third-party studios to Xbox Game Pass. This could signal larger changes to the service's strategy, though the company has not confirmed the reports.
source: techpowerup
