Ever since the inception of Xbox Game Pass in 2017, we’ve always wondered how much Microsoft is paying to bring gaming’s most prominent titles to its subscription service.
We have a better idea thanks to the recent Xbox leaks in an internal email exchange with Microsft’s VP of gaming business development, who breaks down how much it would cost the company to bring AAA third-party 2022 and 2023 titles to Game Pass. Not too shocking, the price varies depending on the game in question, with the estimated asking million-dollar prices ranging from $5 million to $300 million; I can see this being asked in a Dr. Evil-like way.
The most significant money ask comes, of course, from EA with one of this year’s biggest releases in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, but WB Games isn’t too far behind with two $250 million offers for Mortal Kombat 1 and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League; an offer before the game’s delay to early 2024. Interestingly, we do know that Gotham Knights is coming to Game Pass early next month, and the game is listed in the breakdown. According to this estimate, Microsoft possibly paid a $50 million fee to bring WB Montreal’s DC game to its service.
The last game in the triple-digit million number is next month’s release of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which could have cost Microsft $100 million, although nothing is stated if it would be a day one release or after the fact. One big shock listed is 2023’s most significant release in the game of the year conversation, of course, talking about Baldur’s Gate 3, which has a figure of $5 million to bring it to Game Pass. Check out the complete list of all the games list of Game Pass estimates below, as it features mostly AAA games and some other familiar ones as well.
- Lego Star Wars: $35 million
- Dying Light 2: $50 million
- Cities – Skylines 2: no expected price given
- Red Dead Redemption 2: $5 million per month
- Dragon Ball: The Breakers: $20 million
- Just Dance: $5 million
- Let’s Sing ABBA: $5 million
- Return to Monkey Island: $5 million
- Wreckfest 2: $10 to $14 million
- Baldur’s Gate 3: $5 million
- Gotham Knights: $50 million
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage: $100 million
- Suicide Squad – Kill The Justice League: $250 million
- Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: $300 million
- Mortal Kombat 1: $250 million
- Grand Theft Auto V: $12 to $15 million per month
- Blood Runner: $5 million
- Net Crisis Glitch Busters: $5 million
