So Xbox Game Pass, the live gaming service that allows Xbox owners to get access to more than 100 games on-demand for one low monthly fee, is expanding. More than 200 games are currently available as part of the subscription service on Xbox One, with a healthy mix of new and old titles being up for grabs. And now it’s been revealed that the service is making moves in the PC gaming scene.
Microsoft is partnering with dozens of studios to bring more than 100 games to the PC, most likely Windows 10, as part of this expansion. The company will be partnering with many developers and publishers, including Bethesda, Sega, Devolver, Paradox and Deep Silver. And that’s just the start, Microsoft will be expanding the roster of games over time as well.
One great boon for gamers and developers is that this expansion will allow Microsoft to deploy it’s first-party releases under Xbox Game Studios day and date on Xbox Game Pass alongside the normal releases. And PC gamers are getting some good news as well, because Xbox Game Pass for PC will also allow more games to make the jump to Steam, as the PC ports of popular new and old titles gain more traction. So far exact studios and titles involved in this plan haven’t been revealed, but Microsoft is promising that more than 75 content partners and studios will be involved in the overall project.
The inclusion of potential Steam releases for Windows titles that Microsoft has previously used to push Windows 10 is great new for the millions of gamers who cling to Windows 8/8.1. This means they’ll get to play some great games they may have otherwise missed out on.
“Our intent is to make our Xbox Game Studios PC games available in multiple stores, including our own Microsoft Store on Windows, at their launch,” Phil Spencer said in a statement today. “We believe you should have choice in where you buy your PC games.”
And yes, Microsoft has plans in the works to expand to other storefronts as well, like the Epic Games Store, although those were left vague.
And for one final bonus, signing up on the new PC side of Xbox Game Pass will confer some really cool potential discounts on new games. Anyone shopping on the Microsoft Store while having an active sub will get 20% off games and 10% off DLC across multiple titles.
If you want to learn more, you’ll need to tune in to the E3 press event that Microsoft is hosting on June 9 at 9pm BST. There the gaming giant plans to reveal more about what games will be part of Xbox Game Pass for PC, as well as possible pricing and regional information. So tune in then if you want to learn more.
