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Microsoft rolls out full new version of Xbox Game Pass for PC

Microsoft rolls out full new version of Xbox Game Pass for PC

A proper version of Xbox Game Pass is coming for PC.

In a blog post detailing Microsoft's commitment to the platform, Xbox boss Phil Spencer revealed that a full version of the Game Pass subscription service was coming to PC.

Xbox Game Pass was available for PC before, but it had a very limited selection of content. Now, Windows users will have access to more than 100 titles for a monthly payment. As with the console version of Game Pass, the PC edition will include first-party projects from Microsoft. Though it already did do that, so that's hardly new.

"Two years ago, we launched Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One, and since then we’ve seen how valuable a curated library of high-quality games can be for players and game developers alike," Spencer (pictured) wrote.

"It offers a great way to discover and play your next favourite game. We researched whether a similar opportunity exists for PC players and PC game developers, and we believe that it does. We also considered the importance of bringing something new and additive to the PC gaming ecosystem, and we believe that we can. So, we designed a service specifically for the needs of PC gamers and PC game developers. It’s called Xbox Game Pass, just like the original, but it’s a new experience that we are building together with the PC community."

We caught up with ID@Xbox's US boss Chris Charla and EU lead Agostino Simonetta earlier this year to discuss Game Pass as part of the Big M's strategy to support indies. As discussed in the past, subscription services like Game Pass do muddy the waters when it comes to companies announcing user figures

In addition to this new version of Game Pass, Spencer also announced that Xbox games will be available on more platforms moving forwards. The exec cites Half: The Master Chief Collection, which is coming to Steam alongside its Microsoft release. Furthermore, over 20 first-party titles will be coming to Valve's platform, including Gears of War 5 and the definitive editions of Age of Empires and its two sequels.

Finally, Spencer announced Win32 Games support for Windows 10.

"We want creators to be inspired to bring their best content to Windows 10, and we want Windows 10 to be the place where gamers come to discover their next favourite PC game. We recognise that Win32 is the app format that game developers love to use and gamers love to play, so we are excited to share that we will be enabling full support for native Win32 games to the Microsoft Store on Windows. This will unlock more options for developers and gamers alike, allowing for the customisation and control they’ve come to expect from the open Windows gaming ecosystem.

"When I think about the role we play as a company to support and evolve gaming on Windows, it’s critical that we make decisions that reinforce the open nature of the PC, focusing on how best to unite players on all devices around the games they love. That philosophy will guide us as we introduce new ways to discover and play games on Windows."

More is set to be announced at Microsoft's E3 press event, which is taking place on June 9th at 21:00 BST (13:00 PT, 16:00 ET).


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.