For a few dollars a month, Xbox Game Pass works a treat on Microsoft’s current console. Pay a set fee, get a revolving selection of games to download from a vast library of assorted tastes and dip your toes into a pool of first-party release…s. It’s a great system, that works wonderfully for any cash-strapped gamer who just wants something to play. Plus there are a few LEGO games in the service, so that will shut the kids up for a few hours at least. Win win.
It’s clearly also working, as Xbox Game Pass continues to evolve and update its library, earning subscribers along the way as Microsoft lays the ground for the gaming future that it envisions for the industry. A future that will include PC gamers as well, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed in an earnings call via PC Gamer that the company is looking to expand the platform beyond the plastic casing of an Xbox One shell:
Bringing Game Pass to even the PC is going to be a big element of [increasing the strength of our gaming community
PC users already have some taste of Xbox Game Pass currently. Any Microsoft game with a “Play Anywhere” label on it and that happens to be included in Game Pass, can be booted up on a Windows 10 PC as well. It’s a sparse selection currently, but one that does work and gives a glimpse into Microsoft’s all-encompassing plans for the future.
Microsoft will still have some heavy competition to deal with in that sphere when they do launch the service. Steam is going nowhere slowly, EA’s Origin service has its membership perks and gamers of the PC variety usually have a more…select taste, when it comes to games, free or otherwise. Still, if Microsoft can wrangle some of its stunning emulation services into the mix for PC players, it might have just the right gun in its holster for the future.
Last Updated: October 25, 2018
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 08:02
“Select taste” I love the tact you used but let me fix it for you.
“PC gamers have higher standards and usually get games for much cheaper than their console counterparts”
Geoffrey Tim
October 25, 2018 at 08:14
IF! (and this is a big if) Microsoft can get their goddamned incredible Xbox 360 emulation working on Pc, it’ll be worth it to play last gen exclusives.
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 08:17
To be fair. How many of those are there? Halo is coming to PC I heard and I can’t think of a single 360 exclusive right now.
Geoffrey Tim
October 25, 2018 at 08:23
The 360 had a tonne early in its life (that eventually went to PS3) – but if you factor in games that were only on console, you have games like Crackdown, Red Dead Redemption, Skate 2, ninja Gaiden 2, rockstar’s table tennis ( BEST!!!!), Midnight Club LA, Viva Pinata (BEST!), Project gotham Racing, Gears of War 2 and 3, Fable 2, Kameo, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 and a bunch of cool, smaller XBLA games.
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 08:50
I am sure Fable was on PC and I think you can buy gears on the windows store. The rest are racing games and the only thing on that list the I would enjoy is Red Dead but I would prefer 2.
Geoffrey Tim
October 25, 2018 at 08:57
Fable 1 was, yeah – but 2 and 3 weren’t. Same with Gears. 2 and 3 not on PC.
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 09:21
Fable 3 was on PC as I know I have the game somewhere.
Geoffrey Tim
October 25, 2018 at 09:54
Was. It ran on GFWL, and there were a finite number of keys. It’s no longer available. It was crap anyway. Fable 2 was the best the series has been.
Kromas
October 25, 2018 at 10:02
GFWL …. now that is a horror appropriate for Halloween.
G8crasha
October 25, 2018 at 08:23
Hopefully, when and if this comes to fruition, the library of games will justify the subscription. Right now it doesn’t. I’ve subscribed to Access Premier simply for BFV for now. If BFV sucks, then I will be unsubscribing.