Microsoft Pays $1 Billion Annually For Third-Party Games On Game Pass

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Abdullah Waseem

At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered. 

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Gaming subscriptions are in a weird spot right now. With their growth reportedly stagnant for years, companies, especially Microsoft, have a lot riding on the service. A report states that Microsoft reportedly spends $1 Billion to keep third-party games on Game Pass.

Why it matters: Game Pass has had some mixed reactions from the developers and the audience. Despite that, Microsoft seems to be deeply invested in and spending a lot on its subscription service. 

According to a report by Bloomberg, Microsoft reportedly spends $1 Billion to keep third-party games on Game Pass. They often waste millions of Dollars just to make sure that they have a deal. And they have partnered with some big names over the years.

Microsoft now spends $1 billion a year getting third-party games on the subscription service.

– Bloomberg Report

The report further delves into how Microsoft captures the third-party games for the subscription. For smaller studios, it offers a flat fee of millions upfront to include their titles plus a subscription portion of revenue and exposure to a bigger market. 

It can also be assessed from the report that the company has a lot of trust in Game Pass. They don’t have a lot going on for them right now. With the fall of Xbox consoles and underwhelming launches, Game Pass is the primary weapon for Microsoft. 

They are partnered with some big companies incorporating them into the subscription. These include Ubisoft Connect and EA Play, and they even had a partnership with Rockstar for the Grand Theft Auto franchise. 

But with the growth being stagnant, and the service already under fire for inflating the prices, Microsoft has much to worry about. Despite this, they have a great lineup of first-party games for Game Pass including Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones, and Stalker 2. 

Abdullah Waseem

News Reporter

Abdullah is an avid gamer who primarily plays single-player titles. If you can’t find him anywhere, he’ll probably be at his desk playing The Witcher 3 for the millionth time. When he isn’t playing games, he’s either reading or writing about them.