Xbox Game Pass is coming to PC with over 100 games from Bethesda, Sega and more

Microsoft is bringing its Xbox Game Pass Netflix-style subscription service to PC. This means, going forward, PC gamers will be also able to access its new first-party along with third-party games on their Windows 10-based rigs, just like their Xbox One counterparts. Microsoft says, it will initially offer over 100 games from over 75 developers and publishers including Bethesda, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Paradox Interactive, SEGA, and more as part of its Xbox Game Pass for PC service. More details, including price and launch titles, will be announced at E3, 2019 in June.  

“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,” Xbox head, Phil Spencer wrote in an official blog post. “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.” 

Just to be clear, it is possible to play certain Xbox games on PC thanks to Microsoft’s Play Anywhere initiative – but the number of these games is few, and majority of them are Microsoft’s own like Forza Horizon 4. Xbox Game Pass for PC will be like a dedicated game pass for the PC which means, Microsoft is signing deals with third-party developers and publishers to make their games available on the service – on PC. Moreover, Microsoft will “ensure the library remains curated and full of great PC titles across a variety of genres, with new games added every month.” 

Just like its console counterpart, Xbox Game Pass for PC will also bring day 1 access to internally developed Microsoft games at no extra charge, in addition to “discounts in the Microsoft Store on Windows of up to 20 per cent on games currently in the library and up to 10 per cent off related game DLC and add-ons.” 

Microsoft may not boast of an exhaustive catalogue of AAA exclusives like Sony, but it has been able to carve a market of its own on the back of Xbox Games Pass – bringing it to PC was inevitable since Microsoft also happens to be the maker of Windows and it’s no secret that gaming on Windows PCs is a huge market. Xbox Game Pass costs Rs 699 a month in India – it would be interesting to see how Microsoft goes about pricing its upcoming service. 

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