Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden criticizes Xbox Game Pass

The former leader of Sony Interactive Entertainment assures that Microsoft's service turns developers into salaried employees without incentives.

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During an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Shawn Layden, former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment and a key figure in the PlayStation 4 era, launched direct criticism at Xbox Game Pass. According to him, Microsoft’s subscription model could strip motivation from studios, turning them into mere salaried workers who deliver their product in exchange for a fixed payment.

Layden claims that the debate about the profitability of the service is not as relevant as analyzing whether this model is “healthy” for developers. In his opinion, Xbox Game Pass would not allow studios to benefit from the subsequent success of their games, as there would be no profit sharing or additional payments beyond the initial contract.

Layden Questions Motivation and Benefits for Developers in Game Pass

In his statements, Layden explains that subscription services can turn developers into mere “salaried workers” without additional incentives beyond the agreed-upon payment for the project. According to his words:

The former executive believes that this approach reduces creative stimulus, as studios would not see a proportional reward if their title achieves a significant impact among players. He also pointed out that, in a context where AAA development costs continue to rise, this type of agreement could limit innovation.

A Debated Vision that Doesn’t Fit the Current Reality of Xbox Game Pass

As a medium that closely follows the Xbox ecosystem, it’s difficult to overlook that several studios have publicly stated that Xbox Game Pass has allowed them to reach more players, increase their visibility, and generate additional revenue thanks to DLC, merchandising, or sequels that would not have been possible without that massive exposure.

Moreover, this model has served as a lifeline for independent titles and projects that, otherwise, might have gone unnoticed in such a saturated market. And we’re not just talking about small games: big productions have also found in Game Pass a solid user base from day one.

It’s evident that each studio has its own experience, and not all contracts are equal, but reducing Game Pass to a simple “salaried worker” seems to ignore the diversity of agreements and strategies that exist today. Microsoft, at least for now, appears determined to continue betting on the model, and many developers continue to see it as an opportunity, not a limitation.