Chris Charla, the head of ID@Xbox, has responded to recent criticism of Xbox Game Pass. While the subscription service has been very successful for Microsoft, some industry figures have expressed concerns about its impact on the gaming market overall. Charla is now sharing his perspective, aiming to highlight the positive effects of Game Pass on other game developers.
Despite some recent complaints, it’s been a fantastic year for Xbox Game Pass! I was so excited to see they hit a new revenue record last quarter – over $5 billion! That’s amazing considering the service launched way back in 2017. And honestly, the games they’ve been adding on day one have been incredible. Getting to play titles like *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* and *Hollow Knight: Silksong* the moment they came out through Game Pass was a huge win for us fans.
Microsoft Has Made Its ‘Largest Investment in Game Pass to Date‘ in 2025 Amid Criticism
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Charla, who leads Xbox’s indie game publishing, defended Xbox Game Pass. She stated Microsoft has partnered with over 150 developers to bring their games to the service, and more than 50 new teams will join in 2025, making it the biggest investment in Game Pass yet. This comes after Pete Hines, former head of Bethesda, suggested Game Pass could negatively impact developers by not adequately compensating them for their work. Charla countered this by highlighting how Game Pass actually supports more game variety and helps more studios thrive, offering a different perspective than Hines’ concerns.
Kevin Hines isn’t alone in criticizing Microsoft’s subscription service. Shawn Layden, formerly of PlayStation, believes Xbox Game Pass is harmful to the gaming industry. He compares it to Spotify, suggesting that the ease of streaming music has reduced actual music purchases. Layden argues that applying this same subscription model to games discourages buying individual titles and potentially results in lower payments for game developers.
Charla didn’t discuss the specifics of how Microsoft pays game studios for being on Xbox Game Pass, but he emphasized that the service is good for the gaming industry overall. He also stated that Xbox will keep working with many game developers each year to offer a more diverse selection of games. Beyond just growing its library, Xbox Game Pass is also testing cloud gaming for all subscribers, offering more flexible ways to play.
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2025-09-22 18:44