Microsoft Announces New Games On Demand Service: Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass Announcement

Microsoft unveiled a subscription based games-on-demand service called Xbox Game Pass today.

The service, which will cost $9.99 monthly, launches later this spring. It promises to offer over 100 Xbox One and backwards compatible Xbox 360 games for both Xbox One and Windows 10.

In a news post, Xbox head Phil Spencer said Microsoft has worked out deals with several publishers to ensure a steady stream of games. Publishers include 2K, Bandai Namco, Capcom and Warner Bros. among others. Electronic Arts, which already operates the similar EA Access service on Xbox, is absent from the list. The news post also doesn’t mention major publishers Activision Blizzard or Ubisoft. While a full list of titles has not been released, the news post specifically mentioned Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16, and SoulCalibur II.

Microsoft will constantly update the games library. “Every month new games will cycle into the subscription with some cycling out, giving you a constantly-updating library of games,” said Spencer in the news post. Subscribers can buy games on the service at a discount to keep them even after they are cycled out. A 20 percent discount will be offered on the game along with a ten percent discount on any DLC while the game is on the service.

To avoid latency issues with streaming, players will be required to download the full game. Microsoft said on their website this decision was due to gamer feedback. “Based on fan feedback, streaming/connectivity issues were identified as a major pain point for competing game subscription services,” says a FAQ on the Xbox website. Xbox Gold is not required to join the service but will still be required for online multiplayer.

Xbox Game Pass is the second game subscription service on the Xbox One after EA Access. Sony offers a similar streaming service called PlayStation Now on the PlayStation 4. Xbox Game Pass will launch late spring 2017. Select Xbox Insiders will be able to preview the service starting today.

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Pocket
Email
Tumblr
Final Checkpoint Podcast
Full Circle Podcast
Latest Posts

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Email
WhatsApp

Recent Posts

The LG transparent tv from CES displayed in a high rise apartment CES

LG at CES 2025

Every year CES comes around and every year, LG has a great booth. They may be one of the most consistent companies when it comes to showing technology at the ...
Six Days in Fallujah Key Art. Two soldiers preparing for breech Features

Real Warfare with Six Days in Fallujah

Six Days in Fallujah was originally announced in 2009. It is a first-person shooter based on the 2004 conflict in Iraq. It was met with much opposition because it is ...
The Mad Catz M.2.X Pro Force Feedback racing wheel Gaming

Level Up You Racing Experience With the Mad Catz M.2.X. Pro Racing Wheel

Mad Catz, the company known for their fight sticks, is releasing a new force feedback racing wheel. The Mad Catz M.2.X. Pro force feedback racing wheel is the perfect plug-and-play ...
Three fortnite character overlooking the map Features

How Fortnite Hurt The Gaming Industry

When Fortnite was initially released in 2017, it was a PVE defense game that didn’t seem like it would be around for long. With the growing popularity of games in ...
Master Chief holding his helmet. Halo Infinite Features

What Halo Infinite Should Have Been

https://youtu.be/Cagxj2RchQI?si=_fFf3fs_fsh7d0Fq Many people have a gaming franchise that changed their life in some way. I have life-long friendships that have been formed while playing games like Mario Kart and Golden ...
Gaming News

Should You Buy A Meta Quest 3S?

https://youtu.be/EVSbA2Yxx2k?si=G2KXmPguAB_45u5n Meta recencetly heald their Meta Connect conference and announced some excited things if you’re into VR and AR. The Meta Quest 2 was once the hottest item in their ...