Dishonored creator and Larian director criticize Game Pass: "This is not a viable model"

Raphael Colantonio, the founder of Arkane Studios and former creative director of Dishonored and Prey, has issued a scathing critique subscription models Game Pass by Microsoft. He called it unstable and industry-destroying, emphasizing that the service exists solely due to constant infusions of funds from the corporation. According to the developer, in the long term, such a business model will either completely displace other formats or leave the market itself.

Colantonio's statement came against the backdrop of mass layoffs and studio closures at Xbox, including ZeniMax Online and the creators of Hi-Fi Rush. He called Game Pass "the elephant in the room" that everyone prefers to keep quiet about. "This model has been hurting the industry for ten years. The illusion of Microsoft's bottomless wallet cannot continue forever," he wrote on social media.

Joined the discussion Michael Dawes of Larian Studios, who said many studios are concerned about the future of subscription models. He noted that Game Pass «cannibalizes game sales", depriving them of a chance for commercial success. According to him, questions like "what will happen when the funding runs out?" are regularly heard among developers. He admitted that the service can be useful for small teams at the start, but it is not as useful as it seems.

Colantonio also suggested to limit Game Pass only old games, which he believes would not hurt the industry. The comments from experienced developers have added fuel to the fire of debate about the future of digital distribution – especially in the context of global instability, which in 2025 has already led to the loss of thousands of jobs in the gaming industry.