Ori and the Blind Forest Creator Says Xbox Game Pass Could Have Worked but Claims the Content Lineup Was Not Strong Enough
Things are not looking good.
Thomas Mahler, CEO of Moon Studios and creator of Ori and the Blind Forest, has commented on the rumoured Xbox studio closures, providing insights as to why Xbox’s Game Pass strategy has not worked.
In a post on X, reacting to the rumoured Xbox studio closures, Mahler took to X to share his views on the Game Pass strategy, stating, “The Gamepass strategy could’ve worked if people would’ve shown up for it. Problem is: They didn’t and the software catalogue was just nowhere near good enough to make people happily pay the subscription every month. It’s the same as with streaming in the film business: I’ll happily pay my HBO sub cause HBO has amazing content that I want to watch. I’d keep that sub just to binge Sopranos, The Wire, GoT, etc.”
I mean, the Gamepass strategy could've worked if people would've shown up for it. Problem is: They didn't and the software catalogue was just nowhere near good enough to make people happily pay the subscription every month.
It's the same as with streaming in the film business:… — thomasmahler (@thomasmahler) June 18, 2026
Criticising more, Mahler further highlighted that “new” content is very important to players, warning that if new releases do not match the quality of older titles, it creates a problem. He also highlighted that people at Xbox need to fundamentally understand gamers and what they want.
For those unaware, recent reports suggest that Xbox reportedly could be considering studio closures involving studios such as Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine. The reports also point to potential layoffs, along with other things, including the possibility of introducing an ad-supported subscription tier.
In other news, users can also check out the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, which featured several upcoming titles, including Gears of War: E-Day, Clockwork Revolution, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, and more.
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