Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has weighed in on the growing discussion around Xbox Game Pass after a leaked memo from Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma made rounds on the internet.
In the memo Sharma expressed concern that the popular “Netflix for gaming” subscription service has become “too expensive for players”.
The leaked memo, fist reported by The Verge, said Sharma believes Game Pass still plays a major role in the future of Xbox gaming, however, she admits that the current pricing model needs a “better value equation.”
Sharma also reportedly told staff that the Xbox Game Pass service must evolve into something more flexible over time.
The memo sparked a debate online and this is when Shawn Layden shared a pointed response on social media:
They are trying so hard to will this into health, despite unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis. A clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good.
Layden’s statement suggests that he believes Microsoft is forcing the model to succeed even though warning signs of an unhealthy core are there. If the strategy fails, the industry should openly study why it failed so others can learn from it.
This is not only about Game Pass. It is about whether “Netflix for games” works at all.
Shawn Layden has long been associated with the most successful, traditional, console business model at PlayStation where publishers rely on direct game sales, hardware sales revenue, and platform royalties rather than a subscription-first ecosystem.
Game Pass is popular, even after recent price hikes, but since its inception its ability to support expensive AAA games indefinitely was put in question. Microsoft’s recent price increases only intensified that conversation.
For Xbox, the bigger issue may not be whether Game Pass survives, but how it changes. Sharma’s memo suggests Microsoft is already considering adjustments, whether through new tiers, revised pricing, or a different balance between subscriptions and premium game sales.
Layden’s call for a “post mortem” is another sign that many in the industry are now watching closely. How Asha Sharma reshapes Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Gaming in general will impact the industry far beyond Microsoft.
