Microsoft has made this year an exciting one for gaming fans by announcing the Xbox Game Pass, a monthly subscription service for video games. Having an on-demand video game subscription service was a notion that was bandied for a long time now. The Xbox Game Pass is just like Spotify or Netflix, but for the Xbox One. However, this will not be like a streaming service like either. The games available on Xbox Game Pass can be downloaded on your local Xbox hard disk and launch them locally. So, enthusiastic gamers who aren’t really chasing the next must have titles, can now enjoy games no matter when they are released.
Due in spring 2017, the Xbox Game Pass subscription will be easy on the pocketbook at a mere $9.99 a month. Xbox boss, Phil Spencer said he thinks the pricing is “fair” considering the variety they are offering. Xbox Game Pass subscription will give its subscribers unlimited access to over 100 games from Xbox One and Xbox 360.Every month, the Xbox Game Pass will modify its game library to give the subscribers an exciting experience. This means that games will be added and removed on a monthly basis. Gamers will have to purchase the games at a discounted rate to keep it in their library and play them whenever they want with no worry about bandwidth, streaming or connectivity issues. However, Xbox Game Pass will not give its subscribers access to the game’s downloadable content. So, gamers will still have to pay for the add-ons for titles in the Xbox Game Pass library. Microsoft is offering discounts on the downloadable content for the subscribers. While a 20 percent discount will be offered on the titles, the downloadable content will be up for a 10 percent discount.
Putting rest to various rumours, Microsoft has clarified that the Xbox Game Pass will only be available on Xbox One only. The confusion stemmed due to the small print at the bottom page of Xbox Game Pass FAQs, which said, “Xbox Game Pass is an Xbox One, Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox 360 backward compatibility game subscription for Xbox One.”Play Anywhere is the name of the service offered by Microsoft where you get a game on PC or Xbox One and you get access to it on the other machine. However, a Microsoft spokesperson clarified, “The Xbox One and PC icons appear on the Xbox Game Pass description page because you can redeem on console, web and PC, however, Xbox Game Pass is only available on Xbox One consoles.”
So, initially, the subscription service will be launched in 27 markets where the Xbox consoles are currently sold. Apart from these markets, Microsoft has planned an extensive reach after their initial release. Therefore, after the initial testing phase, gamers will be able to sign up for the service provided it’s supported in their country and they own a Xbox One or Xbox One S.
Currently, the Xbox Game Pass tester is available to the Alpha ring members . They are given a free of charge one-month pass to the service. Alpha Ring members can either take part in the testing by enrolling from the Store or Home Screen. Currently there is a direct link, but soon it will be through the Xbox insider App. Simply clicking “Get” on the link will get the consoles enrolled and ready to try! The test catalogue is fairly limited and it majorly includes first-party titles, like Gears of War Ultimate Edition and Sunset Overdrive.
Sounding gung-ho, Spencer spoke on Major Nelson’s podcast about how he wanted the Xbox Game Pass to become something more. He was quoted saying, “There is an opportunity here to not just be about games that have already shipped. I would actually like to see this grow into a program where you can see frontline first shipped games come into Xbox Game Pass as a way to get distributed.”
TheOZCodes Team has done some more digging and discovered some additional details about the publishers and games that will be a part of the Xbox Game Pass Library. The Confirmed publishers include 2K Games, 505 Games, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK Corporation, THQ Nordic, Warner Brothers Interactive and Microsoft Studios.However, some big names, such as Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard were surprisingly missing from the list.
Confirmed Xbox Game Pass Titles:
- Fable III
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Lego Batman
- Mad Max
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- NBA 2K16
- Payday 2
- Saints Row IV Re-Elected
- SoulCalibur II
- Tekken Tag Tournament II
- Sunset Overdrive (XB1)
- Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (360)
- Max: The Curse of Brotherhood (XB1)
- Monday Night Combat (360)
- Gears of War: Judgment (360)
- Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (XB1)
However, despite the massive reception that the Xbox Game Pass has received, the news wasn’t well received by everyone. Following the Xbox Game Pass reveal, the shares of Gamestop, a well-known video game retailer, notably dropped by almost 8 percent. The subscription program by Microsoft could cause the sales of Gamestop to drop especially because Gamestop stocks second hand games. With the Xbox Game Pass, gamers would prefer subscribing to it than purchase games from Gamestop.
The introduction of Xbox Game Pass is an interesting shift away from the traditional gaming premium consoles. Though the idea has been well received by gamers, the viability of the service will depend on the quality of the games offered. So, brace yourselves for these upcoming nuptials with your pro gaming skills and Xbox console. If you don’t own a Xbox yet it’s always best to look for it on the Microsoft store and pair your purchase with the latest coupons on OZCodes for the best price.
