Microsoft Responds To Xbox Games Pass Retailer Issues: ‘We’ve Been Pleasantly Surprised With The Breadth of Demand’

While some retailers aren’t so happy with the announcement that Microsoft is adding all of their first party titles to the subscription service Game Pass day and date with their launch, according to a Microsoft spokesperson speaking to Gamesindustry.biz explained that from larger retailers, the response has largely been positive.

“As we noted in our announcement, our plan is to offer ways for select retailers to assort and promote Game Pass,” said the spokesperson. Microsoft has been seeing a strong demand for such inclusion in their distribution plans, and is open to feedback on how they evolve their plans for distribution.

“In fact, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the breadth of demand from retailers so far, and we’re considering if and how we broaden our distribution plans. We welcome feedback on our plans, and will continue to evolve our plans as appropriate,” the Microsoft spokesperson further added.

Apparently rather than interest in physical copies dying down, there has also been “strong interest” in both the subscription plans and physical copies of Sea of Thieves, which is the first party title they’re choosing to launch the movement with. Despite the recent anger from smaller, independent stores, Microsoft isn’t giving up on them. “We have a long history partnering with independent stores around the world, and continue to believe they play a unique and valuable part in the ecosystem,” said the spokesperson.