All articles tagged with #game pass
Palworld’s 1.0 update adds 18 new Xbox achievements worth 435 Gamerscore, including three hidden, with most tied to finding Effigies across regions and milestones for mutating Pals, awakening, arena rank, bosses, and entering the World Tree. The update is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, and is playable via Xbox Game Pass (Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass).
DOOM: The Dark Ages | Revelations introduces six new campaign levels, a new Chain Spear, tougher puzzles and demons, plus Master Arenas and upgraded weapons for Ripatorium 3.0. It’s available as a standalone add-on for $19.99 or via Premium Editions/Collectors Bundle, with cross‑platform support on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC (Steam/Battle.net) and Game Pass access.
Microsoft reportedly spent about $80 billion over the last decade on Xbox Game Pass-related acquisitions and third‑party deals, but subscriber growth has stalled (about 30 million vs. a 2026 target of 77 million). Price hikes and optional discounts haven’t delivered the hoped-for scale, and the company is reshaping its gaming arm with major layoffs (3,200) and studio divestitures as it pivots toward higher‑return bets. Some studios are becoming independent or being sold, while Game Pass remains uncertain about its long‑term business model.
Microsoft’s Xbox is cutting 3,200 jobs and divesting five studios to refocus on its core business after bets on Game Pass and a broader content strategy left margins thinner; Compulsion Games and Double Fine will become independent, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs will seek new acquisitions or funding, and Arkane Lyon will explore strategic options. CEO Asha Sharma says the restructuring will slim management layers, address overextension and high costs, and that the company spent more than $20 billion on Xbox over five years (excluding Activision Blizzard) with aims to return to growth in 2027.
State of Decay 3 could miss its day-one launch on Game Pass after Microsoft announced it would sell Undead Labs; the deal frees the studio from Xbox-controlling terms, meaning Game Pass inclusion would depend on a separate agreement with the new owner, whose identity is expected to be revealed later this summer. The game, developed since 2020, is scheduled for 2027 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, occurring against a backdrop of wide Xbox layoffs and ongoing industry shifts.
Game Pass has about 30 million subscribers, roughly 4 million fewer than in 2024, and well short of Microsoft’s target of about 77 million by July 2026 (with a leaked plan for 100 million by 2030). Past price hikes and removing day-one Call of Duty titles are tied to subscriber losses, and internal memos from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma flag ongoing growth concerns as Microsoft adjusts pricing and strategy.
Microsoft’s Xbox is undergoing a strategic reset, slashing about 3,200 jobs and offloading four studios—Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs—with Arkane Lyon potentially spun off, as CEO Asha Sharma says the business isn’t healthy and seeks cost discipline and long‑term sustainability alongside a recalibrated focus on core priorities and growth.
After Xbox's restructuring, Undead Labs is being sold, and State of Decay 3 may no longer be contractually required to launch on Xbox Game Pass. The new owner could decide whether or not to release the game on Game Pass, making its day-one availability on the service uncertain despite the studio's ongoing operation.
Xbox Game Pass is stuck at about 30 million subscribers, with growth flat for years; Insider/WSJ reporting places the current count around 30M amid earlier updates (34M) and a 2030 goal of 100M, despite Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal intended to boost subs. A memo from CEO Asha Sharma also disclosed layoffs and acknowledged slower-than-expected Game Pass growth.
Microsoft’s Xbox unit is undergoing a strategic reset led by CEO Asha Sharma, including mass layoffs and selling off studios, after bets like Xbox Game Pass did not pay off; Game Pass is reportedly around 30 million subscribers (down from 34 million in 2024), with a price hike and changes such as not including new Call of Duty games at launch, prompting a shift to focus on higher-priority projects and selective exclusives; no announced first-party Xbox games have been canceled as part of the reset.
Kotaku reports, citing The Wall Street Journal and leaked Microsoft documents, that Xbox Game Pass has dropped to about 30 million paying subscribers, down from 34 million in 2024 and far short of the internal target of 77 million; the decline followed a price increase to $30/month and the inclusion of Call of Duty titles in the library. Microsoft later cut prices and pulled new COD releases from day one to slow churn, but growth appears to have plateaued, signaling a ceiling for the service.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma outlined a bold goal for Xbox to entertain more than a billion people each day, counting players and Game Pass subscribers, as four studios split off and about 3,600 jobs are cut. While Mojang and King remain strong and titles like Candy Crush, Fortnite, and Roblox illustrate large audiences, their combined peaks still fall well short of a billion, making the aim seem aspirational amid the layoffs and earlier missteps. King and upcoming titles could help close the gap, but the plan faces skepticism from the industry and staff alike.
Microsoft’s Xbox division is being forced onto a path to profitability after years of heavy investment. CEO Asha Sharma and the company are trimming costs, potentially shrinking or reorganizing studios, and refocusing on blockbuster franchises and Game Pass while expanding cross‑platform releases. Rising AI and data‑center costs, along with higher console prices, have squeezed margins to about 3%, prompting Nadella’s warning that the era of subsidizing hardware is over and that Xbox must become a sustainable, revenue‑driven business, with the possibility of structural changes like a standalone unit on the table.
Microsoft is removing 11 titles from Xbox Game Pass on July 15, including Golf With Your Friends, Stellaris, EA Sports FC 24, PowerWash Simulator, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider; PowerWash Simulator 2 remains on Game Pass. A second wave is expected mid-July, and subscribers can save 20% on leaving titles. Halo: Campaign Evolved arrives July 28, with other July additions yet to be announced.
Xbox Free Play Days runs July 2–6 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and July 2–7 for Diablo IV, with Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure available July 2–5 to Game Pass Ultimate/Premium/Essential members and two-hour trials for Demonschool and The Stone of Madness July 2–5. Install via the Xbox Store Free Play Days collection; progress from the trials carries over for Diablo IV, and discounts are available during the event.