In the wake of massive layoffs at Microsoft, the gaming industry is in turmoil—and Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, isn’t holding back his thoughts. In a recent post on Twitter, Colantonio criticized Xbox Game Pass, calling it “an unsustainable model” that is “increasingly damaging” to the video game ecosystem.
As studios shutter and projects like the Perfect Dark remake get axed, many in the gaming community are searching for answers. Colantonio, known for leading genre-defining titles such as Prey and Dishonored, weighed in by naming Xbox’s subscription service as “the elephant in the room.”
“There is no way the subscription model can co-exist with the buy-your-game model. One of them must go,” Colantonio said on Twitter. “That’s the nature of cannibalism.”
Industry Shaken by Xbox Layoffs
The layoffs affected thousands of Microsoft employees, many of them from Xbox-affiliated studios. The shockwaves have reverberated across the gaming landscape, raising questions about the viability of current industry business models. Colantonio’s comments highlight a growing concern that subscription services like Xbox Game Pass—despite their value for consumers—might be undermining the long-term health of developers and studios.
He argued that Game Pass encourages short-term thinking, leading to rushed releases, live-service pressures, and poor launch states that harm developer morale and player trust.
Game Pass Needs Reform, Says Colantonio
Colantonio offered a solution: limit Game Pass to back-catalog titles instead of day-one releases. This, he said, could allow the platform to exist without undermining traditional game sales or forcing developers into untenable deadlines.
“The only way this could work is if Game Pass was for back catalog only,” he suggested, noting that current industry trends are leading everyone into a “tough time.”
This perspective isn’t isolated. Developers across the globe have echoed similar concerns—that subscription models push for volume over value, and may eventually stifle creative risks and innovation.
A Growing Rift in the Industry
As the Xbox division faces scrutiny for its decisions, Colantonio’s critique has sparked renewed debate. His comments arrive at a critical moment for Xbox and the broader Microsoft gaming strategy, especially as confidence in AAA studio sustainability continues to erode. The implications are far-reaching: if Game Pass and similar services continue to dominate without adjustments, we may see more talented teams disband and fewer daring titles make it to market.
Raphael Colantonio’s bold critique of Xbox Game Pass sheds light on a brewing tension in the gaming world. As layoffs continue and development studios close their doors, his message is clear: the current subscription-first model may be delivering convenience to gamers—but at a devastating cost to those who make the games.