Arkane Studios Founder Criticizes Xbox Game Pass, Calling It Harmful to the Gaming Industry
The founder of Arkane Studios, Raphael Colantonio, has voiced strong criticism against Microsoft’s Game Pass strategy. His remarks come after a series of negative comments, including one from the head of EA Japan regarding Microsoft’s recent wave of layoffs.
Colantonio’s Concerns About Game Pass
Raphael Colantonio, the former leader of the team behind the Dishonored series, took to Twitter/X to share his views on Game Pass. He believes that Microsoft’s approach with the service, characterized by extensive subsidies, is damaging the video game industry.
Colantonio said, “Gamepass is an unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade, subsidized by MS’s “infinite money”, but at some point reality has to hit. I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”
Industry Reactions to Game Pass
Colantonio’s comments sparked a wider conversation in the industry, with many professionals sharing their thoughts. Michael Douse, from Larian Studios, explained that a major concern among people he knows is what will happen once Microsoft stops investing heavily in Game Pass. This is one of the reasons why many people he knows have chosen not to adopt the business model. The idea of unlimited money being spent on Game Pass doesn’t seem logical to him.
Despite this, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, had reported at the end of 2023 that Game Pass is generating profits.
