Windows 11 was just recently announced by Microsoft, and along with it, many details about how the operating system may impact PC gamers. Not only will Windows 11 integrate some of the technological advancements made by the Xbox Series X, such as Auto HDR, but that the Xbox PC app will be fully built into the system. The new Xbox app will also feature Xbox Game Pass as well as Xbox Cloud Gaming built right into the program, which could carry some big implications for Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox has invested quite heavily into Xbox Game Pass in recent years and seems to be intending for the service to be the future of the Xbox brand in a big way. Xbox has put a lot of effort into getting Xbox Game Pass in as many hands as possible, as well as in securing big-name releases to appear on the service at launch. One of the most recent examples was Square Enix's Outriders with the company later going on to say that it was surprised with how much Xbox Game Pass impacted the game's success.
What Xbox Game Pass Is
The easiest way to summarize Xbox Game Pass is that the service is effectively Netflix for video games. For a monthly subscription fee players are able to download games from a massive library to play as much as they want for as long as the game is on the service. New titles are added to Xbox Game Pass every month, and some occasionally leave. If subscribers start a game on Xbox Game Pass and want to continue playing it after it leaves, they are also given a discount when they purchase any games that are part of the service. Xbox Game Pass has gotten some high-profile additions in the past, but one of its most attractive features is that it will include all future first-party Xbox games on launch, completely included in the game's base subscription fee.
Xbox Game Pass is also available on PCs, although with a different library of games for players to choose from. However, Xbox has said that all of the company's future first-party titles will not only be available on PC but will also be included in Xbox Game Pass for PC. Subscribers also have the option to bundle their Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold subscriptions to get Xbox Game Pass for PC included for free in the form of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass is also available on mobile devices, where subscribers can stream select games from the service and play them anywhere they have a connection thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming.
How Xbox Game Pass on PC is Now
As of right now, Xbox Game Pass for PC costs $10 per month on its own or can be bundled into the $15 a month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. At the time of writing the service includes a subscription to EA Play as well, which brings the total number of games available on the service to an even 340. Despite the number of games on Xbox Game Pass for PC, many players have expressed concerns that the service is not worth the price, especially not when compared to its console counterpart. One large reason for this is that consoles tend to get more games than PC added with each month of Xbox Game Pass' additions.
Many gamers also claim that the library of games available through Xbox Game Pass on PC is simply not as enticing as the ones available on console. Many have voiced their concerns with the PC service being comprised of more indie and older titles while not including some of the platform's bigger releases. However, the sheer volume of games that players get access to with Xbox Game Pass is still an incredible value, and Xbox has said in the past that the PC division of Xbox Game Pass has been successful thus far. With Xbox Game Pass being directly built into Windows 11, it seems that it will only get better for the service as well.
How Xbox Game Pass' Windows 11 Integration Could Impact the Service
Windows 11 having Xbox Game Pass built into it shows the company's dedication to the service and could very likely indicate a renewed dedication to expanding its offerings on the PC platform. This in part includes Windows 11 including Xbox Cloud Gaming to allow weaker PCs to play the newest games at reasonable settings, but it also indicates that Xbox may be willing to throw a lot more money to Xbox Game Pass on PC to increase its footprint on the platform.
Of course, Xbox Game Pass has already been extremely influential on the games industry even without redoubling its efforts on PC. This means that Xbox Game Pass growing on the PC platform could make the service an even more dominating force across the industry. Xbox putting more money behind it could very well lead to some of the biggest PC exclusives coming to the service either when it launches or shortly after. The PC platform has already seen a battle ensuing between the Epic Games Store and Steam, but Xbox Game Pass making big moves like including giant titles such as Star Citizen could shake up the dynamic even further and really challenge other storefronts on the platform. With how successful Xbox Game Pass has already been, it does seem likely that Xbox will consider the investment worthwhile as well.
Of course, only the months and years following the release of Windows 11 will really show how much of an impact Xbox Game Pass' integration will have on the service. It does seem very likely that it signals a renewed interest in the platform by Xbox, but it could also end up not making much of a difference at all, especially with how dominant Steam is as a marketplace already. Until then, players subscribed both on console and PC have plenty to play with Xbox Game Pass, but it will be very interesting to see what the future holds for Xbox Game Pass.