author: Bart Swiatek
PC Version of Xbox Game Pass Revealed
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Game Pass subscription will also be available on PC - in a special version adapted to the platform. The company also provided some other information about Microsoft Store and the games developed by its internal studios.
IN A NUTSHELL:
- Xbox Game Pass will also be available on PC;
- The service will be adapted to the PC market;
- The game library will be expanded;
- The games developed by the concern will be available in various digital stores and will have cross-play and cross-platform functions;
- Microsoft Store will receive support for Win32 games on Windows 10.
Microsoft presented a PC version of Xbox Game Pass - a subscription service providing access to a wide range of games, which until now could only be used by Xbox One owners. Importantly, the PC subscription variant will differ from its console equivalent by the selection of games.
Xbox Game Pass for PC
Two years ago, we launched Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One, and since then we’ve seen how valuable a curated library of high-quality games can be for players and game developers alike. It offers a great way to discover and play your next favorite game. We researched whether a similar opportunity exists for PC players and PC game developers, and we believe that it does. We also considered the importance of bringing something new and additive to the PC gaming ecosystem, and we believe that we can. So, we designed a service specifically for the needs of PC gamers and PC game developers. It’s called Xbox Game Pass, just like the original, but it’s a new experience that we are building together with the PC community," we reads.
The service is dedicated to Windows 10 users (this is the only OS mentioned in the announcement - it is hard to say whether it means exclusivity or whether Game Pass will also be available on older windows version). The offer will include over 100 titles from such publishers as Paradox Interactive, Bethesda Softworks, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital and SEGA. Microsoft has established cooperation with 75 entities to ensure a rich selection of games.
Of course, as in the case of the console Game Pass, the games library will be growing every month. We can expect, among other things, the addition of new games created by Microsoft's studios (to be released on the launch day). It is worth mentioning that we are talking about such developers as inXile Entertainment ( Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera) or Obsidian Entertainment (Pillars of Eternity series, Tyranny). Subscribers of the service will also receive discounts on PC games (discounts will be up to 20%) and DLC and add-ons (maximum 10% discount) available in Microsoft Store.
More information about the PC version of Xbox Game Pass will be announced during the Microsoft conference at the E3.
Microsoft is committed to freedom of choice
A Redmond gigant also took the opportunity to stress how important an element of the PC ecosystem is the freedom of customers and developers. Games created by Microsoft studios will be available in various stores, including Steam and Microsoft Store. The company plans to distribute its games to other digital distribution platforms. What's more, these titles will have cross-play features, including chat rooms and friends lists.
Enabling gamers to play together, through cross-platform play and cross-network play across Windows 10 PCs and console, is vitally important. Building communities across all of those players, regardless of the store or platform they’ve chosen (console or PC), is also vitally important because it helps bring players together, allows games to find their largest audience and allows gaming to deliver its true potential of uniting people around the power of play," we reads.
Win32 support in Microsoft Store
The company also announced that Microsoft Store will receive full support for games created in the older - and preferred by most players - Win32 format, as well as a large number of developers. Until now, productions debuting in the Microsoft digital store had to be adapted to UWP format. This means that the company is likely to give up its aggressive promotion of the standard. The decision may also result in a significant expansion of the games library available on the platform.
We recognize that Win32 is the app format that game developers love to use and gamers love to play, so we are excited to share that we will be enabling full support for native Win32 games to the Microsoft Store on Windows. This will unlock more options for developers and gamers alike, allowing for the customization and control they’ve come to expect from the open Windows gaming ecosystem," Microsoft says.