As a passionate gamer, I’ve been excitedly anticipating the arrival of Revenge of the Savage Planet on Xbox Game Pass. Developer Raccoon Logic partnered with Microsoft to make it a day-one launch title. However, studio head Alex Hutchinson warned that introducing new games into Game Pass can devalue them and potentially harm the gaming industry as a whole.
In a conversation with the Gamer Social Club, Hutchinson shared that the majority of the traffic for Revenge of the Savage Planet has originated from Game Pass, yet he noted that full-game sales have been strong as well. It’s important to mention that this game can also be found on both PS5 and PS4 platforms.
Regarding releasing the game on Game Pass at its launch, Hutchinson mentioned that collaborating with Microsoft, which likely involves receiving payment from them, is a key aspect of Raccoon Logic’s strategy to reach a wide audience while earning revenue. The financial specifics of Game Pass agreements are not disclosed, but it’s well-known that Microsoft compensates developers for putting their games on Game Pass at launch as part of their goal to expand the service and draw in new users.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’m advocating for a change in our industry: let’s all agree to make games available on subscription services only a year after their initial release. This concept is reminiscent of the traditional movie model where a film first premieres in cinemas and later appears on DVD, TV, or streaming platforms.
As a fellow gamer, let me share some insights I picked up recently. If the current trend persists, it’s not looking good for independent game creators who aren’t backed by publishers. According to Hutchinson, Nintendo is unique in this regard as they manage to maintain the worth of their games better than others. It seems everyone else is rushing to undervalue their content, which I believe will lead to some unfortunate outcomes in the future.
Hutchinson is expressing his confusion since his studio agreed to a deal with Microsoft to release Revenge of the Savage Planet on Game Pass on its launch day. The intention behind this partnership was to increase the game’s visibility, hoping that more people would purchase DLC packs or convince friends to buy the game. However, this hasn’t been the outcome.
He mentioned that as of now, we haven’t come across such a scenario, but it’s possible it might happen later on. What has been observed so far is a decrease in the value of content and a general reluctance among people to pay for things. This trend could potentially lead to a reduction in the number of games being developed and an increase in studios facing closure in the future.
Back when I was gaming, those Game Pass payments from Microsoft definitely made an impact. It’s been years now, though, so they’re not quite as big as they used to be.
Nowadays, except for small games or exceptionally large brands, things aren’t going too well. However, Microsoft has been fantastic collaborators, and we’re thrilled to be teaming up with them, as he put it.
1) Game Pass represents a significant change in the gaming industry, making it stand out from competitors who haven’t adopted a comparable approach. For instance, Sony has expressed that they won’t launch their new games on PlayStation Plus immediately due to concerns about its potential negative impact on their value chain and ecosystem. Similarly, Nintendo lacks such a program and is traditionally known for maintaining high prices; in the case of Mario Kart World, they even raised the price.
Previously working at Ubisoft, Hutchinson was responsible for creating Assassin’s Creed III and Far Cry 4. After departing to establish Typhoon Studios, they launched Journey to the Savage Planet in 2020. However, Google purchased Typhoon due to its unsuccessful Stadia gaming endeavors, ultimately shutting down the studio and discontinuing Stadia. Subsequently, Hutchinson initiated Raccoon Logic in 2021, releasing Revenge of the Savage Planet in May 2025.
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2025-06-10 15:39