Xbox Reportedly Halts New Game Pass Agreements with Outside Studios
The alleged freeze mainly affects deals that were still being negotiated.
Miguel Lagoa, Shutterstock
Microsoft has reportedly stopped signing new third-party deals for Xbox Game Pass, according to industry insider Fernando Rizo, former chief sales and business development officer at Raw Fury, now partner at Kaboodle Games.
Speaking on a podcast he co-hosts, The Business of Video Games, Rizo said multiple developers who had Game Pass deals in advanced negotiations were reportedly told their deals were put on hold. According to Rizo, the pause appears to be affecting agreements that were close to being finalized.
The news has sparked speculation that Microsoft may be shutting down Game Pass altogether. However, Rizo pushed back on that interpretation, stating he doesn't believe this marks "the death of Game Pass," but rather a temporary pause while new leadership finalizes its strategy. As reported by Eurogamer, Rizo spoke with several developers who told him their Game Pass deals had been put on hold:
"I definitely don't want to oversell what I know – not privy to any internal Microsoft conversations. But I had spoken to a number of devs that had Game Pass deals in various stages of negotiation who were told the deals were on hold. I don't personally think this is the death of Game Pass or anything, probably just a new CEO wanting to get her feet under her desk and everyone aligned on strategy before the Game Pass team starts cutting cheques again."
Microsoft has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the report.
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