Microsoft Unveils a Few PC Game Pass Details, Here’s a Couple More

We knew it was coming and now Microsoft is slowly starting to pull back the curtains on its GamePass offering for the PC. Announced in a blog post this morning, Microsoft is introducing Game Pass for PC but won’t reveal everything until June 9th.

Here’s what Microsoft is saying about the new service, PC Game Pass will give subscribers access to 100+ games from publishers like Bethesda, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Paradox Interactive, SEGA, and more. Further, just like on the console, new games from Xbox Game Studios will be included on the same day as their global release.

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Xbox Game Pass for PC members will also receive discounts in the Microsoft Store on Windows of up to 20% on games currently in the library and up to 10% off related game DLC and add-ons.

As expected, Microsoft will continue to offer games via Steam and other stores. And of course, they will also offer their games through the Microsoft Store as well with the company saying that Gears 5 and all Age of Empires I, II & III: Definitive Editions, will be headed to Steam too.

And the last detail that Microsoft talks about is the fact that they will be enabling full support for native Win32 games via with Microsoft Store. This is a big step forward for gaming in the Microsoft store but also a big step away from UWP; Microsoft has slowly been moving away from the UWP model and this is one of the final last blows for the framework.

But Microsoft didn’t announce too many other details about GamePass on PC ahead of E3, but fret not, I have a few more to share.

At the conference, Microsoft will reveal the details of how you can actually sign up for Game Pass on the PC with the launch of the beta. According to people familiar with company plans, the PC version of Game Pass will be included with Ultimate Game Pass that was announced earlier this year for no additional cost.

Further, Microsoft is working on a specific PC Gaming app called Garrison, that will be used to help orchestrate the GamePass experience across multiple devices/stores. Phil Spencer had said previously that he was looking to overhaul the gaming experience in the Microsoft Store and the Garrison application is likely the fruit of that labor.

I have not heard yet if there will be a stand-alone SKU of PC Game Pass but it would seem odd to launch the new service without the option as not everyone needs the full Ultimate offering.

With E3 quickly approaching, Microsoft is getting some of the news out early regarding the event which goes to show that they have a big event planned. Next week, I will have an E3 preview post that will help set the stage for the event.

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Conversation 14 comments

  • dontbe evil

    30 May, 2019 - 9:52 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Microsoft has slowly been moving away from the UWP model and this is one of the final last blows for the framework."</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">strange I didn't read this anywhere else</span></p>

    • Rob_Wade

      30 May, 2019 - 10:41 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431585">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>Actually, in the official announcement they make it clear they recognize developers prefer W32 and that this is driving Microsoft to fully support that. So, I would tend to agree that, even if not explicitly stated, Microsoft is effectively waving the white flag on UWP.</p>

      • dontbe evil

        30 May, 2019 - 11:49 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#431630">In reply to Rob_Wade:</a></em></blockquote><p>developers are just lazy, they prefer the old world of files around the hdd, registry mess, lazy uninstall that don't clear up everything … but what can we do, enjoy!</p>

  • yoshi

    Premium Member
    30 May, 2019 - 10:11 am

    <p>Part of me wants to ditch the Xbox and go full PC, especially after these details. I just need my Xbox game library available on there.</p>

  • justme

    Premium Member
    30 May, 2019 - 10:13 am

    <p>Genuinely curious – as a PC gamer, why would I ever consider an XBox (PC) game pass? Steam, Gog, and others take care of my needs. As long as I can get the titles I want from those platforms, I am absoultely fine. The chance of me ever owning an Xbox is very very slim indeed. Every Steam gamer knows the danger to their wallets Steam presents – which regularly puts titles on sale – so I dont necessarily need the discounts. And I know of exactly no one that shops for PC games in the Microsoft Store. Is there some sort of exclusivity in titles attached to the game pass? </p>

    • yoshi

      Premium Member
      30 May, 2019 - 10:19 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431590">In reply to JustMe:</a></em></blockquote><p>If you'd rather purchase your games, then Game Pass wouldn't be appealing to you.</p>

      • justme

        Premium Member
        30 May, 2019 - 10:29 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#431592">In reply to yoshi:</a></em></blockquote><p>Thank you for explaining. So Game Pass is basically you "renting" games – meaning, you pay your $40 (or whatever) a month, and you can access a catalogue. Stop paying and you can no longer play the games in the catalogue?</p><p><br></p><p>You are correct – that is not for me.</p>

        • yoshi

          Premium Member
          30 May, 2019 - 10:38 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#431608">In reply to JustMe:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yes, sorry I should have gone into more detail. It's $9.99 a month and gives you access to over 100 games. And Xbox Game Studios games are on the service day 1. Once you cancel your subscription, you no longer have access to the games. Unless you purchased them at the discounted price while you were a member. You own those games.</p>

          • justme

            Premium Member
            30 May, 2019 - 11:03 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#431628">In reply to yoshi:</a></em></blockquote><p>No worries at all. Between this thread and Paul's, I have a better understanding of what this is.</p>

  • waethorn

    30 May, 2019 - 10:30 am

    <p>I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here and say that once they launch the Xcloud streaming service, the price of this will go up to pay for the back-end infrastructure.</p><p><br></p><p>A streaming version of this service would knock it out of the park for PC gaming though – no more consumer computer hardware upgrades, and ultra-wide bandwidth fibre optic connections are getting more widespread, making game streaming a viable option. A "mid-range" graphics card is still ~$300-400 and games the following year are already pushing old hardware. Let alone that you haven't been able to do appreciable CPU upgrades for years now, which means you're talking another $1000-1500 (or more) for a new gaming PC every 3 years or so. Compare that to a $3-400 game console that lasts AT LEAST 5 years with full game compatibility….(the original PS4 model, which I own, will have launched 6 years ago, this November)</p><p><br></p><p>If I ever get back into gaming on PC, I'm not going to get into expensive hardware again, so I'll wait for the streaming options.</p>

    • justme

      Premium Member
      30 May, 2019 - 11:32 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431609">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>I tend to agree with you about the price increase with XCloud.</p><p><br></p><p>Streaming knocking it out of the park for PCs though…I am much more skeptical of this. Not saying you are wrong, but fast broadband just isnt available everywhere. Any lag that happens will drive PC gamers nuts. And PC-wise, most folks I know who are PC gamers upgrade their rigs piecemeal. When they buy a gaming PC, they buy planning for ~4-5 years. Drives, memory, video cards are typically what gets upgraded.</p>

    • wiederman

      Premium Member
      30 May, 2019 - 12:00 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431609">In reply to Waethorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>It would be a knock it out the park until the financial impact for license sales for windows is impacted.</p>

  • awright18

    30 May, 2019 - 11:10 am

    <p>Any chance they will have a cross platform option. I'd like to be able to choose whether I want to play on console or PC for example</p>

  • John Buck

    30 May, 2019 - 11:57 am

    <p>"Further, Microsoft is working on a specific PC Gaming app called Garrison, that will be used to help orchestrate the GamePass experience across multiple devices/stores." </p><p><br></p><p>Interesting, so the Game Pass catalog on PC will span across multiple storefronts. Smart, will allow for a much bigger catalog since I suspect not all publishers want to spend the time putting their games on the MS Store.</p>

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