In the turbulent wake of Xbox's recent layoffs, Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, has publicly criticized Xbox Game Pass, referring to it as "the elephant in the room" for the gaming industry. While many praise the Game Pass model for its accessibility, Colantonio argues that the subscription service may ultimately damage game development and profitability.

Microsoft's mass layoffs last week sent shockwaves through the gaming world, resulting in thousands of job losses, canceled projects like the Perfect Dark remake, and studio closures. Amidst the fallout, industry veterans like Colantonio have pointed to Xbox Game Pass as a contributing factor to the instability. The former Arkane president, known for critically acclaimed Arkane Studios games, shared his concerns in a candid Twitter thread.

In his post, Colantonio called Xbox Game Pass an "unsustainable model" that has been "increasingly damaging" to the industry. He argued that subscription services like Game Pass cannot coexist with traditional game sales without undermining developers. According to him, Microsoft’s approach forces a choice: either eliminate other purchasing models or abandon the subscription service altogether.

Colantonio suggested that Game Pass could theoretically work if limited to older, backlog titles rather than day-one releases. He also blamed live-service trends and rushed game launches for exacerbating the industry's struggles.

The WolfEye Studios director questioned Game Pass's profitability, calling it a "spreadsheet trick" that ignores Microsoft's massive spending on studio acquisitions. He warned that gamers may eventually "hate" the service once they see its long-term effects on game quality and diversity.

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Colantonio isn't alone in his skepticism. Recently, the developer behind Revenge of the Savage Planet also criticized Game Pass for devaluing content. Despite backlash, Microsoft continues expanding the service, with plans to add numerous retro titles soon.