Fable may be the last day one Xbox Game Pass game, as Microsoft reevaluates service

On the February 23rd Fable release date, the open-world RPG will debut as a day one Xbox Game Pass game. However, as revenue declines, doubts are mounting about the viability of this strategy. Paul Tassi of Forbes believes that if the company changes course, it may begin after the reboot launches.

Losing momentum

The veteran journalist highlights Microsoft's struggles to attract customers. Some reports indicate an exodus of members in recent years, while Xbox CEO Asha Sharma admitted it had not met growth targets. With console sales also slowing late in the Series X|S lifecycle, it’s more difficult to interest gamers.

Since 2018, first-party projects have surfaced on Xbox Game Pass immediately. It remains a major perk of the Ultimate and PC tiers, despite a recent price cut. Regardless, the company may have hinted that day one selections will become sparse. Players must now wait up to a year to access upcoming Call of Duty titles.

Tassi anticipates that subscribers won’t encounter any unhappy surprises on the Fable release date. New games already announced for the service are likely to appear as advertised. Even so, without as many gamers signing up to compensate, throttling potential standalone sales is a greater concern.

A cheaper Game Pass?

If it does cut benefits from Essential, Premium, and Ultimate tiers, Microsoft has to offer supporters enough value. More price cuts are another possibility, or introducing features that don’t negatively impact profits.

The Forbes writer proposes a compromise in which Microsoft delays the day one status of Xbox Game Pass games. Still, as exclusives return, it also has to decide whether to launch single-player, narrative-driven titles like Fable on rival consoles.

The Fable PS5 port is essentially locked in, but the future of other first-party candidates is murkier. Given the dwindling hardware sales, it would seem unwise to sacrifice the additional exposure. Yet Project Helix looms, and multi-platform releases give less incentive to commit to Game Pass and a new Xbox console.