Xbox pauses third-party Game Pass deals during restructuring

Microsoft appears to have paused negotiations for new third-party content on Xbox Game Pass. The move comes as the division undergoes leadership changes and cost adjustments.

Former Raw Fury executive Fernando Rizo reported that multiple developers in advanced talks for Game Pass deals were told the agreements were on hold. Rizo, now a partner at Caboodle, shared the information on the podcast The Business of Video Games after hearing the accounts at a recent trade show in Italy.

Xbox is currently being reset under new boss Asha Sharma, who assumed leadership in February. Sharma has already reduced the price of the Ultimate tier from £23 to £17 per month while removing day-one access to Call of Duty.

Rizo noted that the pause likely reflects internal alignment rather than a permanent shift. He said recent signings handled by his firm may have been among the last completed before the change.

The company also raised prices for Xbox Series S and X consoles, with the increases taking effect on 1 August.

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