Introducing Xbox Game Pass: Unlimited Access to More Than 100 Games

[GribbleGrunger]

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. This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for gamers. As we prepare to launch Project Scorpio this holiday, bringing the most powerful console ever made to the Xbox One family of devices, we continue to make platform improvements to connect the growing community of players on Xbox Live and add to a robust and diverse portfolio of games across Xbox One and Windows 10.

Today, we're continuing our commitment to give you more options to diversify and expand your library of games with Xbox Game Pass, a new gaming subscription service coming later this spring. Xbox Game Pass gives you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible Xbox 360 games – all for $9.99 per month.

With great games from top industry publishers such as 2K, 505 Games, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK CORPORATION, THQ Nordic GmbH, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Microsoft Studios, there's something for everyone to enjoy and you will always find something exciting to play across a variety of genres. Some of the fan-favorite titles coming to Xbox Game Pass when it launches to the broader Xbox community later this spring include Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and SoulCalibur II.

One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass is that you can discover and download the full titles directly on your Xbox One. That means continuous, full-fidelity gameplay without having to worry about streaming, bandwidth or connectivity issues. In addition, all Xbox One games in the catalog – and related add-ons – will be available to purchase at an exclusive discount for Xbox Game Pass members, so you can make the games you love part of your permanent library to play whenever you want. 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.

It's important to us that Xbox Game Pass provides an enjoyable and seamless experience. Before the program rolls out to the broader community later this spring, we'll be testing Xbox Game Pass with select members of the Xbox Insider Program in the Alpha Preview ring starting today with a very limited number of titles. The titles that are available in Preview are just a small glimpse at the expansive catalog of games that will be available when Xbox Game Pass launches this spring. Xbox Live Gold members will also be receiving exclusive access to Xbox Game Pass prior to the program launching to the broader community. We'll have more details on timing closer to launch.

We hope you enjoy Xbox Game Pass and all that it has to offer. We're looking forward to hearing the feedback from the gamers in the Xbox Insider Program and then from the rest of the Xbox community when it's broadly available later this spring. Your feedback will make this program better for all gamers.

Read more at Introducing Xbox Game Pass: Unlimited Access to More Than 100 Games - Xbox Wire

Introducing Xbox Game Pass: Unlimited Access to More Than 100 Games - Xbox Wire

[Xevross]

dang son.

This sounds pretty good

[GribbleGrunger]

dang son.

This sounds pretty good

This is without doubt a game changer. And a perfectly timed announcement.

[darkknightkryta]

This is without doubt a game changer. And a perfectly timed announcement.

It is a game changer, now will this work on PC?

[Aura7541]

It is a game changer, now will this work on PC?

It would be kickass if this service is on PC, too.

[the-pi-guy]

Basically PS Now + downloading instead of streaming + discounts

[DerNebel]

Urgh, no thanks

Edit: Just to make this clear,I can't even stress how much I want all gaming companies to fudge off with subscription battleship. I hate that shame.

[Legend]

Would be much better if it was actually over 100 XBOX One games instead of using BC to inflate that number.

Also it doesn't sound good that titles will rotate in and out. If they were actually trying to compete with PS Now like their digs suggest, they'd be working on making the largest library possible.

Discounts when purchasing could be nice but that's only useful because they'll shuffle games out. I think their business strategy is to get people hooked/interested in a game and then revoke access.

Not something for me but I can definitely see the appeal to others.

[DerNebel]

Would be much better if it was actually over 100 XBOX One games instead of using BC to inflate that number.

Also it doesn't sound good that titles will rotate in and out. If they were actually trying to compete with PS Now like their digs suggest, they'd be working on making the largest library possible.

Discounts when purchasing could be nice but that's only useful because they'll shuffle games out. I think their business strategy is to get people hooked/interested in a game and then revoke access.

Not something for me but I can definitely see the appeal to others.

I also find it a little misleading that they are saying you'll get "unlimited access" and then later say that they'll remove certain games every month, thus suggesting that you'll in fact may not gain unlimited access after all.

[the-pi-guy]

I also find it a little misleading that they are saying you'll get "unlimited access" and then later say that they'll remove certain games every month, thus suggesting that you'll in fact may not gain unlimited access after all.

I'm assuming it's like PS+. After you download you can play it as long as you are subscribed.  But you do have a window to download it.  


It really seems like a glorified PS plus instant game library, except they are trying to make it sound like it competes PS Now.

[DerNebel]

I'm assuming it's like PS+. After you download you can play it as long as you are subscribed.  But you do have a window to download it. 


It really seems like a glorified PS plus instant game library, except they are trying to make it sound like it competes PS Now.

I guess, but it does seem kinda weird how they are advertising that you can buy the games that are on the service for 20% cheaper while you're subscribed, when you can just keep playing them as long as you're subscribed anyways. I mean it's not totally senseless but it sounds kinda strange to me.

[darkknightkryta]

I guess, but it does seem kinda weird how they are advertising that you can buy the games that are on the service for 20% cheaper while you're subscribed, when you can just keep playing them as long as you're subscribed anyways. I mean it's not totally senseless but it sounds kinda strange to me.

Maybe they didn't actually think this through?  Kinda like their family sharing plan that would only work if they had their non-sense from pre Xbox One launch.

[DerNebel]

Maybe they didn't actually think this through?  Kinda like their family sharing plan that would only work if they had their non-sense from pre Xbox One launch.

I doubt it, I think it's just not very clearly worded.

[the-pi-guy]

I guess, but it does seem kinda weird how they are advertising that you can buy the games that are on the service for 20% cheaper while you're subscribed, when you can just keep playing them as long as you're subscribed anyways. I mean it's not totally senseless but it sounds kinda strange to me.

Just to keep it passed when you either drop your subscription.

I might be wrong.
The wording here still seems fairly ambiguous.  

Download and experience games in their full fidelity from top industry publishers and play offline for up to 30 days. Xbox Game Pass is truly your ticket to endless play

Is it just that you have to go back online, and you can keep playing?  
Is it that they remove it entirely?