Microsoft's big strategy this coming generation is Xbox Game Pass, a "Netflix for games" style subscription service that gives players access to well over 100 hundred games in exchange for a monthly fee. Microsoft has made its first-party exclusive available for Game Pass on day one, which is already a huge reason to sign up, but now it's going to sweeten the pot even further come Xbox Series X launch day on November 10.
Microsoft has confirmed that EA Play is coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate beginning November 10. This means Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play all of the games in the EA Play Vault at no additional charge, plus enjoy other benefits like free trials of newer EA games. This should ensure that those who buy an Xbox Series X or Series S on day one have even more games to play right out of the gate, including everything from Dead Space to FIFA.
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play partnership will expand in December. At some point that month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to access the EA Play library on PC as well. And of course, all of these games will also be playable through the xCloud streaming service, adding even more value to the Game Pass Ultimate package.
In its announcement of the EA Play release date on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft also made sure to highlight its recent acquisition of Bethesda. Microsoft reminded fans that Bethesda's franchises will be making their way to Xbox Game Pass across both consoles and PC. Future Bethesda games will also be debuting day one on Game Pass, which includes Starfield, the upcoming sci-fi RPG that the studio has been developing for a few years now.
The first Bethesda game coming to Xbox Game Pass will hit the service on October 1 in the form of Doom Eternal for Xbox One. PC players will have to wait a little longer to get access to Doom Eternal through Game Pass, but Microsoft has promised that it will be added by the end of 2020.
With both Bethesda and EA games coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in the months and years ahead, it's clear Microsoft is making a concerted effort to make its subscription service a must for Xbox gamers. Whether or not it's enough to convince consumers to pick up an Xbox Series X or S console is up for debate, but we'll find out sooner rather than later.