How much do developers make by offering their games on Xbox Game Pass? An indie developer whose game was added this month has revealed how much it has earned.
Every month, Microsoft fills its Xbox Game Pass catalog with a ton of new games. Day-one releases, independent titles, big productions, the Redmond company doesn’t hesitate to put in your wallet to enrich its service with surprising games. But how much does adding a game bring to XGP? An independent developer spilled the beans.
Microsoft is dropping big money on Xbox Game Pass
The new spearhead, Xbox Game Pass has emerged as one of the top picks for video gaming. Between having games available the day they’re released, including exclusives, or nuggets from the independent world, there’s something for everyone at a lesser price. However, to be that competitive, Microsoft has to pull out the checkbook to be able to integrate legendary games from Bethesda or even a PlayStation license. In the midst of big productions, there are some more confidential titles at play. And even for them, Microsoft is willing to invest big bucks.
Such is the case of Cooking Simulator, for example, which joined Xbox Game Pass in August 2022. The website TwistedVoxel, revealed that internal documents of the Polish developer mentioned the amount advanced by Microsoft for the game’s inclusion in the catalogue. That’s 22% of the company’s total revenue for the prior fiscal year, or about $600,000. A rather exorbitant sum for a fairly small title, which is also from 2019. We can well imagine that number increasing depending on the popularity and scope of the game, and titles like Death Stranding or Immortal Fenix Rising needing to far exceed a seven-figure amount. One thing is for sure, Microsoft is betting heavily on Game Pass and is even preparing a family subscription to extend its reach.
