Xbox Game Pass subscription service to include all first party games
Sea of Thieves, Crackdown 2 and State of Decay 2 will launch day and date on the service
Microsoft has significantly improved its Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
The service was launched in June last year, and initially offered gamers access to 100 Xbox One games for a monthly subscription fee. The majority of the games were older, catalogue titles.
Now the firm has made a significant improvement to the service, by offering all Xbox first-party games onto the service. That includes new releases such as the upcoming Sea of Thieves, Crackdown 3 and State of Decay 2.
Xbox head Phil Spencer also wrote in a blog post that the firm is teaming up with GameStop and other retailers to offer a 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card. He says that he believes the new business model could create major opportunities for developers and publishers.
"This plan to bring new games timed with their global release into Xbox Game Pass not only includes announced titles like Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, and Crackdown 3 but future unannounced games from Microsoft Studios including new iterations of our biggest Xbox One exclusive franchises such as Halo, Forza and Gears of War, on the same day they launch," Spencer wrote.
"Our fans have also asked for more choice in the subscription offerings available for Xbox Game Pass. As part of today's library expansion, we are also pleased to announce that we are working closely with our retail partners, such as GameStop, to offer a 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card for those fans who look for a variety of ways to purchase and enjoy new games and services. The 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card will be available at select retail partners for $59.99 beginning March 20. By working closely with retail partners, Xbox Game Pass will have valuable ambassadors in popular destinations for gamers to discover new and exciting games and enjoy community.
"With the addition of more great games, new blockbuster releases and a new subscription offer, we are giving fans more choice and value in how they discover and enjoy games - purchase games for their permanent library or play through Xbox Game Pass for one low price.
"We've only scratched the surface of the opportunity this new model brings to the industry and what we can deliver to our fans. We firmly believe Xbox Game Pass will be a catalyst to create new opportunities for game developers and publishers to innovate in the way games are developed and delivered, leading to entirely new ways to play.
"We're truly humbled by the incredible response we've received to date for Xbox Game Pass, and we look forward to offering an unprecedented choice and value with Xbox Game Pass this spring and beyond."