Xbox reportedly pausing new third-party Game Pass deals, developers say

Key Points:

• Xbox is reportedly slowing down the frequency of third-party Xbox Game Pass deals, particularly affecting indie developers who rely on these agreements for financial stability, according to Fernando Rizo of Kaboodle Games.
• Discussions for new Game Pass deals are said to be "on pause," with many developers experiencing sudden halts in advanced negotiations amid uncertainty around Microsoft's gaming strategy.
• Xbox is undergoing a "reset" of its games business under CEO Asha Sharma, which may lead to significant job losses and potential studio closures in the near future.
• Microsoft recently lowered the price of Game Pass following a prior increase but announced that future Call of Duty titles will no longer launch on the service simultaneously, instead arriving up to a year later during the holiday season.
• VGC has reached out to Xbox for comment on these developments and will provide updates as more information becomes available.