A Wizard101 dev recently said that Xbox Game Pass is a double-edged sword, while explaining why the game is unlikely to end up on the subscription service. This statement comes in the wake of speculation among Wizard101 fans about the MMORPG’s potential arrival on Xbox Game Pass.

For the better part of the past 20 years, Wizard101 has enabled players to cast magic spells as part of its turn-based combat and deck-building gameplay. Throughout this time, KingIsle Entertainment, the studio behind the online title, has delivered a slew of significant updates. From refreshing the game’s content with new arcs to optimizing its performance via technical fixes, the devs have looked after the game since its launch on PC in 2008. Wizard101‘s much-awaited console release was confirmed in August 2024 for current-gen and previous-gen PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo systems, along with crossplay support in all the console versions. Most recently, KingIsle hinted towards the fantasy RPG skipping Xbox Game Pass, at least, for the time being.

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As shared by Reddit user Tiespecialo, Greg from Wizard101‘s product team revealed on Discord that the game’s forthcoming console arrival doesn’t mean it could one day also be available on Xbox Game Pass. Replying to a fan, the KingIsle rep said that the deckbuilding title would “probably not” go live on the subscription service’s catalog due to it being a “kind of a double edge [sic] sword.” Breaking down their answer, Greg echoed a persisting notion about Xbox Game Pass and said that even though it brings “a lot of exposure,” it also holds the potential to “massively” cannibalize profits. Moreover, he added weight to his argument by pointing out that a free-to-play version of Wizard101 will roll out alongside the developer’s own paid membership-based version anyway, making it even “less necessary” for the multiplayer game to also be listed on Game Pass.

Wizard101 to Skip Xbox Game Pass, Unlike Certain Other Free-to-Play Online Titles

While a free-to-play version may make it less important to put Wizard101 on Xbox Game Pass as well, there are certain popular free titles that have been a part of the subscription service regardless. These free-to-play titles include the likes of Valorant and Apex Legends, which have previously offered additional content, such as bonus skins and XP boosts, for those playing via Xbox Game Pass.

Wizard101 doesn’t have an official release date for its console launch yet, but it’s more or less clear that whenever that happens, an appearance on Xbox’s subscription platform would be far from likely. Nonetheless, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to other major additions to the catalog in 2025, including Doom: The Dark Ages, FBC: Firebreak, and more.

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