Xbox Game Pass has been dubbed “Netflix for Video Games” by many of its fans. There’s a big reason for that. Large console and PC games are getting more and more expensive. It appears that $ 70 will be the normal big game price for the upcoming Microsoft Xbox Series X console. However, with this service, Microsoft is offering gamers the option to play tons of Xbox One games and Windows 10 games for one low monthly price.
Continue reading: Is the Xbox Series X backward compatible with Xbox One games?
What is this service, how much does it cost, and is it the perfect way to collect fees for playing for both newbies and hardcore gamers? We have everything you could want to know about Microsoft’s gaming service and its beefier brother, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
The subscription service started in 2017 and offers console owners over 200 Xbox One compatible games. This includes many first-party games from Microsoft. In 2018, Microsoft announced that it would add its latest first-party games to this service on the same day as the games available for sale. The catalog also contains older Xbox 360 games that are backward compatible with the Xbox One console. There is also a separate Game Pass for the PC. It includes access to over 200 games for Windows 10-based laptops and desktops. Subscribers also receive special game discounts and offers that are not available to non-members.
What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
This more expensive version of the service was introduced in 2019. In addition to the ability to play over 200 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games for a monthly fee, it also adds Game Pass for PC. Ultimate also includes full support for Xbox Live Gold, which provides online multiplayer support for all Xbox games and free game downloads. In addition to discounts and offers, Ultimate subscribers also receive free in-game content for some games and some third-party offers.
Eventually, the service will be home to Project xCloud, which will offer over 100 Xbox One and PC games via cloud streaming to Android-based smartphones and tablets. This service will officially go into operation on September 15th.
Continue reading: Project xCloud – Everything we know
How much is it?
Xbox Game Pass is $ 9.99 per month and Game Pass for PC is $ 9.99 per month. The Ultimate version of the service costs $ 14.99 per month. In that regard, the Ultimate tier is by far the better value for money as it includes Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass for PC, as well as Xbox Live Gold (a $ 9.99 per month service on its own) and the upcoming Project xCloud service combined.
You can also purchase 3, 6, or 12 month digital codes for service from online retailers including Amazon.com.
Where is it available?
The service is available in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
- Great Britain
- United States
Can I keep all the games if I no longer use the service?
No. Once you end your Xbox Game Pass subscription, you will not be able to play all of the games available in the service. This includes games you’ve downloaded on your Xbox One or Windows 10 PC. If you purchased DLC items for a game that you accessed through the Service, they will still be yours. However, you can only use them if you actually pay for the games.
Are games leaving Xbox Game Pass?
Yes. Microsoft is constantly adding new games to the service, but regularly removing others. Visit the Xbox Game Pass official website for the latest list of Microsoft’s Xbox One, Xbox 360, and PC games.
Is there a mobile app for the service?
Yes. The Xbox Game Pass mobile app for Android and iOS allows subscribers to keep track of their games. You will also receive notifications when new games are available on the service. You can even use the app to order your Xbox One console to download the game when you are away from home. That way you can start the game when you return to your house.
In addition, the Android beta version of the app provides Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with the ability to stream and play games through the xCloud service. This function is not available in the iOS version of the app.
Does Xbox Game Pass have rivals?
Microsoft isn’t the only place where a lot of console and PC games can be played for one monthly price.
EA games
Electronic Arts recently merged its subscription services for two games, EA Access and Origin Access Basic, under the new EA Play brand. You can play a selection of older EA games for $ 4.99 per month or $ 29.99 per year. You can also access new EA games before they are released for 10 hours of free demo time. You will also get discounts when purchasing full games. It is available on the PC, Xbox One and Playstation 4 platforms. There’s also EA Play Pro for PC games only, which gives you full access to the publisher’s latest games with all of its additional DLC content. It costs $ 14.99 per month or $ 99.99 per year.
Ubisoft uPlay Plus
Unlike Xbox Game Pass or EA Play, this service is only intended for PC owners. Publisher Ubisoft is offering these players access to over 100 players at a price of $ 14.99 per month. This price includes new games from Ubisoft on the day of their release. You will also get the full versions of these games, including all additional DLC content. It also offers early access and betas for upcoming games.
This is how we see Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service. We’ll update this article as the company makes changes or adds functionality to the service.