Xbox boss Chris Charla, who runs Microsoft’s independent gaming label ID@Xbox, has commented on the state of Game Pass and what developers are saying about it.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Charla said Microsoft worked with more than 50 developers in 2024 to sign their first Game Pass deals, and 2025 marks ID@Xbox’s “largest investment in Game Pass to date.”
“We remain focused on delivering the most exciting and diverse catalogue in gaming,” he said.
Charla went on to say that the majority of developers who have worked with ID@Xbox for a Game Pass deal have come back to Microsoft asking to bring future titles to the service.
“As a result, we’ve signed deals with more than 150 partners to expand the catalogue. We continue to engage with hundreds of partners each year to review upcoming titles,” he said. You can see all the upcoming Game Pass games we know about for a look at what’s confirmed.
As for how Microsoft finds games to bring to Game Pass via ID@Xbox, Charla said it can come from any number of sources, including meeting with developers at conferences or even a simple DM. It also comes from workplace conversations, Charla said. “We find them from people all around Microsoft being like, ‘Hey, have you seen this game?’ And we find them from having friends who make games who say, ‘Hey, you need to see my friend’s game.’ And from people just emailing us!”
Charla did not, however, comment on the many recent comments from prominent developers about the possible negative effects of Game Pass on the wider gaming industry. Arkane co-founder Ralph Colantonio said Game Pass is “unsustainable,” while former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden said subscription services like Game Pass make developers become a “wage slave.” Former Bethesda higher-up Pete Hines, meanwhile, said subscription services like Game Pass can lead to a “real problem” for the industry. Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has said it makes no economic sense to put new games on Game Pass. Shannon Loftis, a former executive at Xbox, said Game Pass eats into retail revenue.
Many others, meanwhile, have said Game Pass has had a major positive effect on their game releases. A top boss at the Football Manager studio said the being on subscription services has led to skyrocketing player numbers.
Game Pass brought in nearly $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time recently.
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