In light of the recent layoffs at Xbox, Raphael Colantonio, the founder of Arkane Studios, has voiced his views on Xbox Game Pass, calling it “the elephant in the room.” Colantonio’s opinion comes after massive layoffs affected Microsoft’s gaming sector, leading to the cancellation of important video game projects, notably the Perfect Dark remake, and contributing to the shutdown of several studios.

As the gaming industry grapples with these changes, Colantonio criticized the Xbox Game Pass model as an unsustainable approach that ultimately harms the gaming ecosystem. He stated that the current subscription model cannot coexist with traditional game purchase methods, arguing that either the conventional methods will be eliminated or the subscription service will fail.

In his Twitter remarks, he labeled Xbox Game Pass as increasingly damaging over the years. Colantonio proposed that a way forward for the service might involve restricting it to older games instead of newer titles. He emphasized that the disruptions caused by Microsoft’s extensive studio purchases and reliance on subscription content are detrimental to the industry. He believes that in the long run, players may come to resent Xbox Game Pass as they recognize the negative impacts on game quality and availability.