Summary
Palworldcommunity manager Bucky has recently taken to social media to defendXbox Game Pass, asserting that launching games on Microsoft’s subscription service is a worthwhile endeavor for indie developers. Bucky pointed to his experience withPalworldand one other title as the basis for his strong belief in the value ofXbox Game Pass.
The long-term viability of Microsoft’s subscription service has been a long-standing topic of debate among industry watchers and gamers alike. Microsoft itself is on record asacknowledging that Xbox Game Pass “cannibalizes” sales—a fact that continues to fuel ongoing debate about the service’s impact on the commercial success of individual games. Another such discussion has recently emerged following the arrival ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, a widely acclaimed RPG that was a day-one Xbox Game Pass release.
Bucky, the community manager forPalworlddeveloper Pocketpair, was among the many who joined the ensuing debate. Taking to social media on April 28, Bucky asserted thatClair Obscur: Expedition 33was being “unwillingly dragged through gaming Twitter” as part of yet another discussion on the Xbox Game Pass viability. “I feel like I’ve just a little more knowledge on the topic than most, so I’ll just say yes, yes it is very worth having your game on Game Pass,” the community manager said.
Pocketpair Was ‘Very Happy’ With Both of Its Xbox Game Pass Launches
Elaborating on this train of thought, Bucky explained that he only speaks from his perspective as an indie developer. To date, Pocketpair has launched two Xbox Game Pass titles—CraftopiaandPalworld—and was “very happy with both,” the community manager said. Beyond the indie space, Bucky said he doesn’t have any special insight into how things work or “what sort of deals are cooked.”
I feel like I’ve just a little more knowledge on the topic than most, so I’ll just say yes, yes it is very worth having your game on Game Pass.
Pocketpair is the latest in a long line of companies to publicly defend Microsoft’s subscription service in recent years. Sega, Sports Interactive, and Rebellion Developments are among the many others who have done the same. Recently,Doomcreator John Romero also came out in defense of Xbox Game Pass, claiming that the platform makes gaming more accessible while being an overall win for everyone, from developers to players.
