ID@Xbox head Chris Charla has defended Xbox Game Pass after multiple notable figures in the industry have criticized the platform. The subscription service has been an undeniable success for Microsoft, but it's come under fire lately from some people outside the company as arguments have arisen over its effect on the broader gaming market. Now, Charla has spoken out to paint a different picture of Xbox Game Pass and how it impacts other developers.
Outside the recent criticism, it's been a good year for Microsoft's online gaming platform. In the last quarter of fiscal year 2025, Xbox Game Pass set a new revenue record, drawing over $5 billion over the period for the first time since the service's 2017 debut. 2025 has also been a strong year for day-one games on Game Pass, with titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong dropping on the platform on their respective release dates.
If Xbox Game Pass Wasn’t Already Having Its Best Year Yet, It Certainly is Now
2025 has been one of Xbox Game Pass' best years, and if that wasn't already obvious before, it certainly is after this month's additions.
Microsoft Has Made Its 'Largest Investment in Game Pass to Date' in 2025 Amid Criticism
While speaking to Eurogamer, Charla, who heads up Xbox's indie publishing program, pushed back against the idea that Xbox Game Pass is bad for the industry, saying Microsoft "signed deals with more than 150 partners" to bring their games to the platform. According to Charla, over 50 teams have signed up to partner with the service for the first time in 2025, making it the "largest investment in Game Pass to date." These comments come after ex-Bethesda boss Pete Hines said Xbox Game Pass may harm developers, as subscription services aren't "properly valuing and rewarding what they're making." While Charla didn't single out Hines specifically, his explanation about how the platform fosters more game diversity and promotes more studios stands in stark contrast to Hines' criticism.
Hines is not the only one to speak out against Microsoft's subscription service lately. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden said Xbox Game Pass is "bad for the business," comparing it to Spotify, which he suggests is a large reason why people don't buy music as much anymore. According to Layden, bringing the same model to the gaming sector has a similar effect, incentivizing fans to use subscription platforms that reportedly pay developers less instead of buying individual games.
Charla did not speak about how Microsoft compensates studios through Xbox Game Pass, but his position asserted that the platform is beneficial for the industry. He also said Xbox would "continue to engage with hundreds of partners each year" to bring a wider range of titles to the service. Growth isn't the only change coming for the platform, either, as Xbox Game Pass is testing cloud gaming on all tiers, giving all subscribers more ways to play in the future.
