As part of the ongoing court hearings between Microsoft and the Federal Trade Commission, more documents have leaked, giving everyone a peek behind the curtain on how the sausage is made in the games industry.
Apart from the presentation deck revealing Xbox’s plans for next year to 2030, another document was leaked, labelled exhibit PX1052, which is an email chain started from May 17, 2022 as Xbox leadership discussed on what third-party games can they can get on Game Pass.
This is a response to two of Xbox’s big titles for that year, Redfall and Starfield, being pushed back to 2023. The delays were announced first, and this chain of emails happened after that, as Xbox leadership scrambled to have games, any games, to be on Game Pass for 2022. Preferably “D&D” (which we assume to mean “day and date”, as in, a day-1 release on Game Pass).
And these emails, you can find an archive of it here while it’s still up, is dated from 2022, mind. So there are outdated info here, from placeholder games, to games that eventually delayed.
The first fascinating detail is how much Microsoft is willing to pay, or expected to pay, to get third-party games on Game Pass. We know that the deals being made to get games on Game Pass are publisher and games-specific, and the amount of money exchanged are confidential. This document finally put out some of the numbers, and they are in the millions of USD. Minimum.
For big releases, like Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, Microsoft/Xbox expected that publisher Warner Bros. Interactive to ask around the $35 million range.
Unlikely candidates like Star Wars Jedi Survivor, Mortal Kombat 1 (referred as “Mortal Kombat Next”) and Assassin’s Creed Mirage (referred as Assassin’s Creed Rift) goes in the hundred millions. That’s $300 million, $250 million and $100 million respectively.
These could either be because that’s the publisher’s “crown jewel” game, or some games having deals with other parties, like how Suicide Squad has a heavy marketing push with PlayStation.
For smaller games, like indie titles, Xbox is offering at least around $5 million, including Return To Monkey Island and Baldur’s Gate III.
Yes, it is ridiculous that an RPG with a huge AAA budget that is legitimately a Game Of The Year contender to be ballparked this low. But that’s hindsight. Back in 2022, Larian’s upcoming game is still remembered as a Stadia title. Yes, Baldur’s Gate III was revealed at a Stadia showcase of all places. If only Stadia holded out just a little longer to reap the success of this partnership.
Rockstar’s special deal involves not a lump sum payment, but a monthly payment in the millions to have either Red Dead Redemption 2 or GTA V on Game Pass.
There were plans to have a Cities: Skylines II Closed Beta exclusive on Game Pass, which didn’t happen. But the deal to have that game on Game Pass day-1 was closed.
Also, there is a mention of Wreckfest 2. Officially there is no Wreckfest 2 announced, but THQ had two different games with the word “Wreck” and “Fest”, both involving cars, in the form of Wreckcreation and Stuntfest (later renamed to Jected: Rivals).
Some games have notes on estimated hours of play that game may have.
Here’s the full list. Bold are games that have made it or coming to Game Pass, at the time of writing. Prices are in USD.
- Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga – 35 million
- Dying Light 2 – more than 50 million
- Cities: Skylines II – no mention
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – more than 5 million per month
- Dragon Ball: The Breakers – more than $20 million
- Just Dance – 5 million
- Let’s Sing ABBA – 5 million
- Return to Monkey Island – 5 million
- Wreckfest 2 – 5 million
- Baldur’s Gate III – 5 million
- Gotham Knights – 50 million
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage – 100 million
- The Suicide Squad Kills The Justice League – more than 250 million
- Star Wars Jedi Survivor – more than 300 million
- Mortal Kombat 1 – more than 300 million
- Grand Theft Auto V – around 12-15 million per month
- Sequel to Snow Runner (referred as “Blood Runner” – likely Expeditions: Expeditions: A MudRunner Game) – 5 million
- Glitch Busters – 5 million
As you can see, most of the games listed in the email chain, supposedly to fill in the void left by Redfall and Starfield’s delay, didn’t happen. Most of these games released later than expected, and none of the games that entered Game Pass from this list was not a day-1 release on Game Pass.
It’s perfectly normal for executives to discuss wild, improbable deals. It’s their jobs to see if any of it can happen or not. Though usually these discussions are not publicly made available like this.
And now we know why some indie publishers keep taking these Game Pass deals and how much work (and money) it needs to get even one AAA game to do a day-1 release. That’s just a glimpse of how the sausage is made, so to speak. Hopefully you still have the appetite to eat sausages.