Xbox Game Pass Officially Confirms End Of An Era
Since its inception back in 2017, the Xbox Game Pass subscription service has allowed Xbox gamers to get their hands on some incredible titles, even day-one releases, at no extra cost. Not only that, but with a new batch of games added each month, it is the perfect way to get your hands on some epic releases, both old and new. However, one Xbox Game Pass program which was first unveiled four years ago has now been officially canceled, which does not bode well for the service as a whole.
Xbox Has Killed Off One Of Game Pass' Most Promising Ideas
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky
This is just another major change that has been implemented since Phil Spencer stepped down as the CEO of Microsoft Gaming earlier this year. Now, as of 12 March 2026, ID@Xbox global director Guy Richards has revealed that Project Moorcroft is now dead. What is Project Moorcroft, you may ask? Well, it is a program which was first announced back in 2022 which would allow developers to share pre-release demos of their upcoming titles on the Xbox Game Pass. Much like a game heading into early access, this would allow the studio to get important feedback on their games, as well as allowing the general audience to discover an upcoming release that they may not have been aware of. Overall, it would have been a promising project. However, in an interview with The Game Business, Richards revealed that after four years in development, Project Moorcroft has officially been axed. Describing it as “a program where we were experimenting with some ideas for how we can support demos on Xbox," Richards went on to reveal that demos are still an area which Microsoft wants to focus on, "but in a slightly different direction to what Moorcroft was." It is unclear what this new direction entails, but it is at least reassuring to learn that Xbox will still shine a light on upcoming studios and games in the future.
It's A Shame This Game Pass Perk Never Got Off The Ground
Demos may not be everybody's cup of tea, but there is no denying that they are important for a game's developers. Not only does it allow them to receive that all important feedback, as well as be made aware of any bugs or issues that may have slipped under the net, but it would also build an audience for a game ahead of its full launch which might otherwise not have been there. As such, it is a shame that Project Moorcroft died before it had begun, but it is reassuring to learn that Microsoft is not giving up on the idea as a whole. Now, only time will tell what the next iteration of this failed project will be.
