Xbox Game Pass faces internal backlash as studio leaders decry its impact on game value

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier said dozens of Xbox studio executives “absolutely detest” the Game Pass subscription, arguing it has "destroyed the value of their games" and lowered the perceived price of all titles. The criticism comes amid a slowdown in subscriber growth, with numbers falling from about 34 million to roughly 30 million, and a round of layoffs that saw 3,000 gaming staff cut. New Xbox head Asha Sharma is reportedly reevaluating the model, and Microsoft may stop offering first‑party releases on day one – a shift already seen with the latest Call of Duty launch. Industry analysts note that future major releases such as The Elder Scrolls VI could be sold at full price before later entering the service. While Microsoft has not confirmed any policy change, the internal dissent signals a potential redesign of the Game Pass strategy and its role in the broader gaming market.