Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass, a subscription program that will allow Xbox One owners to pay a monthly fee of $9.99/£7.99 and, in return, have access to a library of over 100 rotating Xbox One and Xbox 360 downloadable games. As long as someone has an active subscription, they can download and play games. Should they enjoy a game they’re playing, they can get a 20% off discount on games currently in the catalog and 10% discount on participating games’ DLC. Should they unsubscribe or the game be removed from the Xbox Game Pass library, they will lose access to the downloaded titles.
A preliminary list of companies participating and games expected to be part of the Xbox Game Pass library has been released. Bandai Namco, Capcom, Sega, SNK, Deep Silver, THQ Nordic, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, 2K, 505 Games, Codemasters, and Focus Home Interactive will supply games, as well as Microsoft.
The first few confirmed Xbox Game Pass games are as follows.
- Fable III
- Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Lego Batman
- Mad Max
- Mega Man Legacy Collection
- NBA 2K16
- Payday 2
- Saints Row IV Re-Elected
- SoulCalibur II
- Tekken Tag Tournament II
The Xbox Game Pass will launch in Spring 2017. Microsoft has noted that Xbox Live Gold members will be given exclusive first access to the Xbox Game Pass program.
