Xbox’s “Netflix for gaming” service has officially launched today. Following successful beta testing, Xbox Game Pass is now available to all Xbox One and Windows 10 user.
Xbox Game Pass – No Streaming Required
For a £7.99/$9.99 monthly fee, Xbox Game Pass subscribers have access to a host of games. Rather than stream, à la PlayStation Now, available games are downloaded to your console or PC. Head of Xbox Phil Spencer says:
“With great games from top industry publishers such as 2K, 505 Games, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, Capcom, Codemasters, Deep Silver, Focus Home Interactive, SEGA, SNK CORPORATION, THQ Nordic GmbH, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Microsoft Studios, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and you will always find something exciting to play across a variety of genres. Some of the fan-favorite titles coming to Xbox Game Pass when it launches to the broader Xbox community later this spring include Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and SoulCalibur II.”
New Titles Every Month
Games included within the program are available for a period of 30 days. If subscribers want to permanently own a downloaded game, it will be available for a 20% discount. Spencer explains:
“One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass is that you can discover and download the full titles directly on your Xbox One. That means continuous, full-fidelity gameplay without having to worry about streaming, bandwidth or connectivity issues. In addition, all Xbox One games in the catalog – and related add-ons – will be available to purchase at an exclusive discount for Xbox Game Pass members, so you can make the games you love part of your permanent library to play whenever you want. Every month new games will cycle into the subscription with some cycling out, giving you a constantly-updating library of games. Xbox Game Pass is your ticket to endless play.”
14-Day Free Trial
Xbox One and Windows 10 users can take advantage of an Xbox Game Pass 14-day free trial. If you do try the service, remember to ensure you have plenty of storage space to download available games.
