Coming this spring to the Xbox One, the Xbox Game Pass will give console owners access to over 100 Xbox One and backwards compatible games for $9.99 a month.
The Xbox Game Pass is not a streaming service, like PlayStation Now, but a game download subscription along the lines of EA Access. Subscribers who pay the $9.99 monthly fee will be able to choose from games like Halo 5: Guardians, Payday 2, NBA 2K16 and SoulCalibur II (examples given in Microsoft’s official announcement,) downloading them directly to their system and playing them as if they were purchased digitally. Subscribers will be able to purchase the games in the catalog at a discount (20 percent off games, 10 percent off add-ons,) adding them permanently to their Xbox library.
The Xbox Game Pass will start rolling out today to select members of the Xbox Insider program today, with plans to launch exclusively for Xbox Live Gold subscribers before going live for all Xbox One owners this spring.
Looking at the image provided above, we’ve also got Saint’s Row IV, The Mega Man Collection, Terraria, Mad Max, Lego Batman, Fable III, Mad Max and several fading box arts to look forward to.
Sound like a good deal?
Update 2/28/2017, 1:00 PM: We asked Microsoft to clarify a few points about the service.
The Xbox Game Pass library will be updated on a monthly basis with games being added “sometimes” games leaving. Players will have access to all games on the pass as long as they remain in the library and the player remains subscribed. Should the player unsubscribe or a game leave the library, the games will be removed, but the save data from those games will be saved should the player restart the sub or purchase the game.
As for how the pass will affect the Games with Gold program:
“Games with Gold and Xbox Game Pass are two different service offerings with unique benefits. Games with Gold is an added benefit specific to Xbox Live Gold members that rewards players with two to four free games each month to enjoy. Xbox Game Pass is a subscription-based service that gives you unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 backward compatible games for Xbox One for $9.99 USD per month. Xbox Live Gold is not required for Xbox Game Pass, however, Xbox Live Gold is required for multiplayer titles that are part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog.”