The Xbox Game Pass represents an entirely new form of buying games. Microsoft already offers free game trials and Xbox Live Gold members get monthly discounts and a selection of games for free. Recognising that many people are unable to afford regular game purchases, Microsoft has envisioned Game Pass as a way to grow your Xbox library while paying a minimal amount each month.
The Game Pass will be priced at $9.99 per month. It comes with unlimited access to “over 100” Xbox One games, including backward compatibility titles originally built for the Xbox 360. Every one of these games will be playable as part of the subscription fee. You can download each game to your Xbox One and enjoy it as though you’d just bought it from the store.
Microsoft will change the titles available through Game Pass periodically, ensuring people do still spend money on buying games outright. Each month, new games will be added to the plan and some existing older ones will be removed. Microsoft hasn’t said how many months games will be offered for before they’re removed.
Once a game leaves Game Pass, you’ll be able to purchase it at an exclusive discount as a subscription customer. Its downloadable content will also get a price cut, letting you keep titles for good if they turn out to be your favourites. Full games will be reduced 20 percent over the catalogue price and DLC 10 percent.
Game Pass is a new approach to selling games that’s aimed primarily at people who like playing new titles on a regular basis. Microsoft is targeting players who spread themselves across a diverse range of games, putting together an attractive offer that could increase overall Xbox engagement. For the same price as a Netflix subscription, you can access over 100 games across every available genre.
“At Xbox, we put gamers at the center of everything we do and remain committed to giving you the freedom to play the games you want, with the friends you want, on the devices you want,” said Microsoft. “Every month new games will cycle into the subscription with some cycling out, giving you a constantly-updating library of games. Xbox Game Pass is your ticket to endless play.”
Game Pass will launch later in the spring. Members of the Xbox Insider Program Alpha Preview ring can try out an early version of the service from today. Initially, a “very limited” selection of titles is available. Microsoft said the preview experience offers a “small glimpse” into what will be available to every Xbox gamer in a few months’ time. The company will announce further timing details as the launch approaches.
