One of the co-founders of Microsoft Game Studios – Laura Fryer – hasn’t pulled her punches when it has come to criticising some of the company’s decisions. In a new video, Fryer has taken to calling out Microsoft’s recent decision to raise the praise of Game Pass Ultimate, along with introducing new tiers tot he subscription service. In the video, which you can check out below, Fryer has said that the company threw away one of its advantages in favour of “greed over gaming”.
Fryer spoke about the leadership of Microsoft making these decisions while not quite being in touch with the gaming market at large. This, she noted, as being one of the biggest challenges that Xbox is faced with today. “I’m not sure that their leadership understands what makes Xbox great,” she said. “I’m not sure that they’re listening to their fans. They keep doubling down on decisions that make it clear that they’ve been in a bubble, and all this feedback doesn’t seem to reach them any more.”
Referring to the recent video released by Microsoft over the changes being made to the pricing structure and tiers of Game Pass which noted that players would have more choice than ever before, Fryer also said, “They got it right. They did give their fans the freedom to choose, and they have. They’ve left.”
She also points to the price hikes that have affected Xbox Series X/S consoles in the US, which have also been noted by others in the industry as being done with a profit motive rather than in response to the trade tariffs imposed by the US. These decisions, according to Fryer, came from a “yes man culture” that has seemingly been cultivated in Microsoft’s upper management tiers.
“Xbox didn’t reinvent [itself] by replacing the old engine with a better one,” she continued further in the video. “They just abandoned what they had and started chasing what they didn’t understand…With this last increase to Game Pass, Xbox threw away one of their last advantages: they were the best deal in gaming. These price hikes feel like a betrayal. Greed over gaming.”
The price for Game Pass Ultimate going up to $30 per month has raised quite a few eyebrows throughout the industry. Earlier this week, former head of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Khan, had criticised Microsoft for the price hike, noting that events like industry consolidation with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard led to Microsoft becoming “too-big-to-care” about raising prices of its services.
“Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been followed by significant price hikes and layoffs, harming both gamers and developers,” wrote Khan. “As we’ve seen across sectors, increasing market consolidation and increasing prices often go hand-in-hand. As dominant firms become too-big-to-care, they can make things worse for their customers without having to worry about the consequences.”
For more details about the new pricing for Game Pass Ultimate, as well as about the new Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Premium tiers, check out our coverage. Interestingly, some regions in the world have seemingly had the price hikes delayed.
It’s interesting to see such strong opinions from industry veterans like Laura Fryer. Price hikes can definitely stir up debate among gamers and developers alike. It’s important to consider how these changes impact the gaming community as a whole.
It’s definitely eye-opening to hear perspectives from those who helped shape the industry. Laura Fryer’s comments highlight the ongoing debate about balancing profitability with player accessibility, especially in subscription models like Game Pass. It raises questions about how these decisions impact the gaming community in the long run.
Absolutely, it’s refreshing to see industry veterans like Laura Fryer speaking out. Her insights remind us that the balance between profit and player experience is crucial for the future of gaming. It’s a complex issue that impacts both developers and consumers alike.
Absolutely, her perspective really highlights the ongoing tension between profitability and player experience in the gaming industry. It’s important for developers to advocate for gamers, especially as subscription models evolve. Balancing business needs with community satisfaction is crucial for the future of gaming.
You make a great point about that tension. It’s interesting to see how the industry evolves, especially with subscription models like Game Pass reshaping how games are valued. Balancing player satisfaction and financial sustainability is definitely a tricky challenge for developers.
Absolutely, the balance between profitability and player experience is crucial. With subscription services like Game Pass growing, it’s vital for companies to consider long-term player trust alongside their pricing strategies. It’ll be fascinating to see how this impacts game development and accessibility in the future!