Players Appeal for Cancellation of Game Pass as Form of Protest

Mass Xbox Game Pass Cancellations as Protest Against Microsofts Controversial Moves

Lately, a lot of Game Pass subscribers are pretty fed up. Many users are saying they’ve canceled their subscriptions to protest Microsoft’s latest decisions regarding Xbox. This whole movement really picked up steam after a series of highly publicized events in the industry: over 9,000 confirmed layoffs, with many of those folks from the Xbox division, and game cancellations like Perfect Dark. While we don’t have official numbers showing a big drop in subscribers yet, the buzz on social media and forums like ResetEra is definitely growing. The reason for all this unhappiness is a string of negative developments impacting Microsoft’s games division. The company recently confirmed they’re canceling several projects, including games like Everwild, the Perfect Dark reboot, and an internal online game called Project Blackbird. On top of that, they’re closing studios like Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios (which got merged into ZeniMax Online). More recently, The Initiative, who was working on Perfect Dark, was also affected. There have also been waves of layoffs affecting thousands of employees, as part of Microsoft’s broader cuts of over 9,000 jobs overall.

Even though Microsoft hasn’t really addressed Game Pass in their recent statements, some players have said they’re fed up and won’t support the service anymore. A topic on the ResetEra forum called “Cancel Your Game Pass” has garnered hundreds of replies, with users claiming they’ve ditched the service and urging others to follow suit. That post also mentions this reaction is happening because people feel Xbox isn’t being transparent with them, and they’re worried Xbox is ditching new ideas and diverse games just for profit, not players.

Despite these community protests, Microsoft hasn’t publicly acknowledged a direct impact on Game Pass subscriptions. The last official numbers came out in February 2024, showing Game Pass had 34 million subscribers, a jump from about 25 million at the end of 2022. We haven’t gotten any new official updates since then, but some unofficial estimates suggest the number might have even topped 35 million by mid-2025. In a recent earnings call, Microsoft did say Game Pass made record revenue and grew its PC user base by 30%, but they didn’t bring up any trend of people canceling. It’s still an unfolding situation. We’ll have to see if this protest really picks up enough steam to show up in Game Pass’ numbers, or if it’s just another squabble between the gaming community and Microsoft’s Xbox division. Basically, players are pushing for Game Pass cancellations to show they’re really unhappy with Microsoft’s recent Xbox decisions, like axing projects, shutting down studios, and laying off thousands of employees.

In Case You Missed It

As the gaming community continues to grapple with Microsoft’s recent controversial moves, it’s worth delving into a broader critique of the company’s corporate mindset. Ahmed Hassan’s thought-provoking piece “Microsoft, Lex Luthor, and the Malice of Corporate Mindset,” published on July 5, 2025, draws an incisive comparison between Microsoft and the notorious DC villain Lex Luthor. Hassan argues that Microsoft’s prioritization of profit over ethical considerations is deeply concerning, especially in light of their support for Israel’s armed forces and large-scale layoffs. This scathing analysis also touches on Microsoft’s ambitious $80 billion investment in AI projects, which could further exacerbate job losses. For a deeper look at these issues and to support the cause, be sure to check out Microsoft, Lex Luthor, and the Malice of Corporate Mindset and consider contributing to their crowdfunding campaign for PlayersForLife. While the recent round of layoffs and project cancellations at Microsoft has certainly shaken up the gaming community, there’s some good news on the horizon. In a surprising turn of events, Hideo Kojima’s mysterious project OD appears to be unaffected by these cuts, according to Carlos Mendoza’s latest piece over at Players for Life. Despite the uncertainty surrounding many Xbox projects, OD is still reportedly active and remains one of over 40 ongoing initiatives at Xbox. To learn more about this intriguing development and what it might mean for the future of gaming, check out Carlos’s article Kojima’s OD Unaffected by Xbox Layoffs. As Microsoft continues to navigate a tumultuous period with significant layoffs and project cancellations, an Xbox Game Studios executive has proposed an intriguing yet controversial solution. Matt Turnbull, in a LinkedIn post, suggested utilizing AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot to assist laid-off workers through this challenging transition. While the idea aims to provide support, it has faced criticism for potentially being a reflection of Microsoft’s own high-stakes investments in AI that led to these cuts. For a deeper dive into how this proposal is impacting both current and former Xbox employees, be sure to check out Carlos Mendoza’s article, “Xbox Game Studios Executive Proposes AI for Laid-Off Workers to Navigate Crisis” (published on July 5, 2025) Xbox Game Studios Executive Proposes AI for Laid-Off Workers to Navigate Crisis.