XBOX Reportedly Pauses New Third-Party Game Pass Deals Amid Ongoing Reset

A lot is going on in the gaming industry right now, and XBOX is at the center of it, unfortunately. From reported studio closures and layoffs to negotiations, XBOX’s internal reset plan is showing effect somewhere else. Speaking of effects, a new industry claim suggests Microsoft could be slowing, or temporarily pausing, new third-party Game Pass deals as the company continues its broader Xbox restructuring.

As reported by Insider Gaming, the claim surfaced during a recent episode of The Business of Video Games Podcast, where Arrowhead Game Studios CEO Shams Jorjani spoke with Caboodle Games founder Fernando Rizo about the current state of Game Pass negotiations.

According to Rizo, conversations at a recent industry event hinted at unexpected behind the scene development involving XBOX that third-party game developers wouldn’t want to hear.

“I was at a trade show in Italy, had some nice lunches, some nice dinners with industry colleagues. Word on the street was that loads of people who were in the frame for Game Pass deals. You know, nothing was inked yet, but the deals were in advanced discussions. Everybody got the rug pulled out from under them.”

When Jorjani asked whether Microsoft had stopped signing new Game Pass deals altogether, Rizo stopped short of making that claim. Rather, he suggested his own interpretation was that negotiations appear to be “on pause,” while acknowledging that it was ultimately his personal read on the situation rather than confirmed information.

More recently, speaking of Game Pass’ current position, Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler argued that subscription platforms depend on a steady stream of premium content that creates a fear of missing out among players. Without major releases that users feel compelled to play immediately, he believes many subscribers will eventually question the value of paying a monthly fee.

For now, it’s important to note that Microsoft has not confirmed any pause in third-party Game Pass agreements. Until Microsoft addresses the claims, reports of paused Game Pass deals should be treated with a grain of salt.