‘Over 100 games’
Out of nowhere, Microsoft has announced a new subscription service called “Xbox Game Pass.” The gist is that for $9.99 a month you’ll be able to access “over 100 Xbox One and backward compatible games,” in an unlimited fashion. By unlimited, they mean actually downloading them, not streaming like PS Now. All pertinent games and add-ons will be discounted for Xbox Game Pass members.
The service is coming later this spring (or today for select Xbox Inside Program members), and confirmed titles include Mega Man Anniversary Collection, NBA 2K16, Mad Max, Saint’s Row IV, Halo 5: Guardians, LEGO Batman, Terarria, Payday 2, Gears of War, Fable III, and Tekken Tag Tournament 2. In other words, it’s not just limited to first-party games, as Microsoft has secured a number of publishing partners (2K, 505 Games, Bandai Namco Entertainment, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK Corporation, THQ Nordic, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment).
It’s an interesting move when combined with the existing EA Access system, and truly a symbol of the times. While folks are jazzed about “cutting the [cable] cord,” all of these separate publishers are moving in with $9.99 subscriptions that will eventually add up to a cable bill anyway. Granted, having the choice to go à la carte is preferable to paying for 500 channels you don’t watch. Millions of Americans would buy a Food Network/HGTV package in a hot second.
Introducing Xbox Game Pass [Xbox Wire]
