Game Pass “Doesn’t Hurt Game Companies,” Says Doom Co-Creator

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been following the ongoing discussion about Microsoft’s Game Pass. Some folks argue it negatively impacts sales of games on the platform, but for me, it’s a game-changer in the best possible way. And according to gaming legends like John Romero, co-founder of id Software and creator of Doom, Game Pass is a boon for our beloved industry.

Through an interview on Xbox Expansion Pass, Romero recently expressed his heartfelt admiration for the Game Pass service.

As a passionate gamer, let me tell you, I’m absolutely smitten with Game Pass! It’s like having Netflix for video games – who wouldn’t want that? The beauty of it lies in the “try before you buy” feature. It’s like one game leading to another, without any barriers. The real hurdle for gamers has always been access to these games. Even free-to-play games can be hard to discover sometimes, but with Game Pass, they’re right there, just waiting for me to explore!

Romero further stated that Game Pass doesn’t negatively impact game developers since it allows players to try out games faster, even if they don’t purchase them permanently. It’s uncertain whether Romero holds this view for games released on Game Pass simultaneously with their store launches, such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 which was the top-selling game in America for 2024. On the other hand, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle only managed to rank No. 14 on the list of best-selling games in December 2024, possibly due to its PlayStation 5 port being delayed until this spring.

Even though Romero wasn’t involved in creating Doom: The Dark Ages, this title is set to launch on Game Pass on May 15. Unlike Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it will simultaneously release on PlayStation 5 along with its premiere on Xbox Series X|S.

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2025-01-30 03:38