Xbox Game Pass coming to PC

Microsoft has announced plans to bring Xbox Game Pass to PC, and to sell more first party games outside of the Microsoft Store.

While Xbox Game Pass for PC shares the same name as the Netflix-style subscription service that’s been available on Xbox One since mid-2017, Xbox head Phil Spencer said it’s a new experience designed “specifically for the needs of PC gamers and PC game developers”.

Read our E3 2019 dates schedule for every conference and live stream date.

It will offer unlimited access to a library of over 100 PC games on Windows 10, from the likes of Bethesda, Deep Silver, Devolver Digital, Paradox Interactive and Sega, with new titles added every month.

Spencer said Microsoft’s working with 75 developers and publishers to bring content to the service. New first party titles from Xbox Game Studios such as Obsidian and inXile will be available through Xbox Game Pass for PC on the day they’re released.

Subscribers will also receive Microsoft Store discounts of up to 20% on titles currently in the Game Pass library (games will be removed over time) and up to 10% off related DLC and add-ons. More details about the service will be revealed at E3.

Additionally, Spencer said Microsoft plans to give PC users more choice in where they purchase its games. “Our intent is to make our Xbox Game Studios PC games available in multiple stores, including our own Microsoft Store on Windows, at their launch.”

Microsoft announced in March that Halo: The Master Chief Collection will come to PC later this year via the Microsoft Store and Steam.

“We will continue to add to the more than 20 Xbox Game Studios titles on Steam, starting with Gears 5 and all Age of Empires I, II & III: Definitive Editions,” Spencer said.

“We know millions of PC gamers trust Steam as a great source to buy PC games and we’ve heard the feedback that PC gamers would like choice. We also know that there are other stores on PC, and we are working to enable more choice in which store you can find our Xbox Game Studios titles in the future.

“We want to bring players together to create a shared player community regardless of where they play,” he added, “so it’s our intent that new Xbox Game Studios titles include features such as voice and text chat, LFG, friends lists and cross-play across PC and console. On Windows 10 you’ll find this functionality in the Xbox Game Bar, which we’ll continue to evolve and expand.”

Spencer also said that Microsoft will be adding full support for Win32 games on the Microsoft Store.