Xbox players in India are getting 8 months of Xbox Game Pass for free. The subscription is a gift from Microsoft to its Indian players, and fans found out about it recently in an email sent out to all subscribers. Apparently the reason for this generous gift is a recent change in policy by the Reserve Bank in India, which changes the way that recurring payments are to be handled in the country. As a result of this change, Microsoft is revisiting its own recurring payment policies, but is offering this free subscription in order to avoid any outages during the transition.
For those that aren't aware, Xbox Game Pass gives players access to over 100 free games as long as they are subscribed. It is similar in nature to PS Plus offered by Sony on its platforms. Xbox players normally have to pay around $15 a month (Rs. 699/month) in order to keep their subscription, meaning an 8 month package is worth around $120 (Rs. 5600).
This offer doesn't just extend to current subscribers, however, as new subscribers can also get in on the action for free. Players in India that don't have an Xbox Game Pass subscription can get access to the service for seven months as part of this promotion. Naturally, the monthly fee will pick up again after the seven months are over, but it's a great way for players in that region to get started and test whether or not they think the Xbox Game Pass subscription is worth the price.
It is worth noting that new subscribers will need to pay for one month in order to get the seven months free, but paying Rs. 699 for 8 months of Xbox Game Pass is hardly asking too much. By contrast, players with existing Xbox Game Pass subscriptions should already have had the extra 8 months added to their account without having to do anything. This will allow players to enjoy some of Xbox's major first party games, including titles like Halo Infinite.
Even outside of first party games like those mentioned above, there are several high profile third party games on Xbox Game Pass that have made their way onto the service for free. Players have enjoyed the likes of Scarlet Nexus, Outer Worlds, Hades, and much more. It only stands to reason that this platform will continue to offer great titles, and at a price tag of free, it's hard to argue with.
Source: IGN India