A former executive leaked what Microsoft pays to add games to Game Pass: from $50,000 to $50 million
The company aims to remain competitive in a market where instant access to major games has become a key differentiator.
Some developers have criticized the service, calling it "harmful to the industry" due to its effects on long-term profitability.
Microsoft, meanwhile, defends the model and claims that it is profitable, including the costs of publishing its exclusive games on launch day.
With these costs on the table, it can't be ruled out that Game Pass will increase its price in the short term, although for now, there is no official confirmation.
Xbox Game Pass has become a benchmark in gaming thanks to its more than 400 titles available with a single subscription.
However, maintaining that library comes at a multi-million dollar cost: figures have leaked ranging from US$50,000 to US$50 million per game.
Former Microsoft business manager Iain MacIntyre revealed that the company has paid from US$50,000 for indie titles to US$50,000,000 for AAA games.
The data became public after the recent layoffs at Xbox and was shared by analyst @bogorad222, a specialist in tracking executive profiles.
The figures clearly show Microsoft's financial effort to sustain a service that adds titles such as DOOM: Dark Ages, Oblivion Remastered, or Expedition 33 to its 2025 catalog.