Overview

• Raphaël Colantonio argued on social media that Game Pass, subsidized by Microsoft’s “infinite money,” has been damaging the industry for a decade.
• He warned the subscription service cannot coexist with other revenue models and predicted it will either “kill everyone else” or collapse, leading to more studio closures.
• Colantonio’s remarks followed Microsoft’s latest round of layoffs and shuttered game studios, intensifying scrutiny of its growth strategy.
• Microsoft counters that Xbox playtime continues to climb substantially thanks to Game Pass and highlights partner successes such as Rebellion’s Atomfall launch.
• Industry leaders remain split over whether a deep-pocketed subscription model can deliver sustainable growth without undermining premium game sales.