Microsoft to Expand Xbox Game Pass Partnership Network

• Xbox has signed deals with 150+ partners to expand its Game Pass offering in 2025.
• Over 50 teams had signed their first Game Pass deal last year.

Microsoft is doubling down on its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, striking deals with more than 150 partners in 2025 as the company seeks to solidify its position in the competitive gaming market despite regulatory headwinds over recent pricing changes.

Chris Charla, head of Microsoft's ID@Xbox independent developer program, told gaming publication Eurogamer that developer appetite for the service remains strong. "The majority of partners who've had a game featured on Game Pass want to bring their future titles to the service," he said during the Gamescom trade show.

The expansion represents what Charla characterized as Xbox's largest annual investment in Game Pass content to date, with over 50 development teams signing their first deals with the service last year alone. Microsoft reviews hundreds of potential titles annually for inclusion in its gaming library.

The push comes as the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant navigates regulatory criticism over subscription pricing changes implemented in 2024. Microsoft retired its Game Pass for Console tier, replacing it with a $14.99 monthly Standard option that delays access to first-party Microsoft titles by up to 12 months. Premium tiers continue to offer day-one access to new releases.

The Federal Trade Commission challenged the restructuring, arguing that removing high-profile games while raising prices could harm consumers. The agency cited Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023 as context for its concerns about the company's market power.

Microsoft dismissed the FTC's objections as "misleading," contending the agency was attempting to "reinvent its case on appeal" following earlier regulatory battles over the Activision deal.

Performance metrics suggest the service maintains momentum despite the pricing controversy. "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" became the first Activision Blizzard title to launch simultaneously on Game Pass following the acquisition, setting new franchise subscription records. Microsoft's fourth-quarter 2025 earnings showed Xbox content and services revenue climbing 13% year-over-year, driven by strong first-party game performance.