Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Leaked Documents Reveal Costs of Major Third-Party Games, Including Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Mortal Kombat Next
Newly leaked documents have shed light on the costs associated with bringing major third-party games to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. These documents, accidentally made public by Microsoft in 2020, provide valuable insight into the financial aspects of the popular gaming service.
For years, the specifics of how much Microsoft pays for Game Pass titles have remained elusive. However, these leaked documents now offer a clearer picture of the financial arrangements between Microsoft and major game publishers. According to the documents, major publishers typically demand anywhere between $100 million to $300 million to have their games included in the service.
One of the notable examples mentioned in the documents is Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which was released in April of this year. Electronic Arts (EA) was reportedly seeking a massive $300 million for the inclusion of the game on Xbox Game Pass. However, Microsoft decided against pursuing the deal as EA considers the Jedi games to be crown jewels.
Another game mentioned in the leaked documents is Mortal Kombat 1, referred to as Mortal Kombat Next in the document. Warner Bros., the publisher behind the game, projected a price of $250 million along with 100 million hours of playtime. However, due to the game’s status as a crown jewel and the recent shakeups resulting from the Warner Bros. Discovery merger, the deal didn’t materialize.
The leaked documents feature several other noteworthy third-party studios and games from various timeframes. Some games, such as Red Dead Redemption II and Grand Theft Auto V, have already made their way to Game Pass. However, those that didn’t make it were replaced with earlier titles from their respective franchises. For example, Mortal Kombat 11 and Assassin’s Creed Origins took their place.
A particularly interesting inclusion in the leaked documents is Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios. Microsoft offered to bring the game to Game Pass for $5 million, primarily because it was initially revealed and released in Early Access for Google Stadia, which is now defunct. However, since then, Baldur’s Gate 3 has turned out to be one of the biggest games of 2023, surpassing the asking price by a significant margin. Michael Douse, the publishing head at Larian, acknowledged the unpredictability of the game’s success on Twitter.
The leaked documents offer a comprehensive list of potential Game Pass candidates and the predicted prices Microsoft anticipated for each game. The list includes highly anticipated titles like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
These leaked documents provide valuable insights into the financial negotiations and considerations behind bringing third-party games to Xbox Game Pass. While some deals materialize, others fall through due to various factors. Players can now appreciate the behind-the-scenes complexities involved in securing their favorite games for the popular gaming service.
