Microsoft [unveiled the Xbox Game Pass](http://news.xbox.com/2017/02/28/introducing-xbox-game-pass/) this Tuesday, a novel subscription service that grants users complete access to a plethora of games on Xbox One and Xbox 360. This exciting new venture will be launched later this year and is exclusively tied to Xbox One and Xbox On S consoles. This announcement arrives on the heels of the highly anticipated launch of the [VR-based Project Scorpio](http://techbooky.com/4486-2/), further bolstering excitement for Microsoft’s gaming division.
Under the pricing model Microsoft has devised for this, the subscription will cost $9.99 a month. What do you get for this price? Microsoft’s pitch lays out a tantalizing scenario: “One of the best things about Xbox Game Pass is that you can discover and download full titles directly on your Xbox One. This ensures seamless, high-quality gameplay without the headaches of streaming, bandwidth or connectivity issues. Moreover, all Xbox One games in the catalogue, along with related add-ons, will be available at discounted rates to Xbox Game Pass members. This means that you can add the games you love to your permanent library to play at your leisure. A dynamic array of games will be added to the subscription each month, with others cycling out, providing you with a constantly-updated library of games. Xbox Game Pass is the golden ticket to limitless gaming.”
When you sign up to the Game Pass, you will gain access to over 100 games. These games will be downloadable on your Xbox One or Xbox One S, allowing them to be played offline and thus bypassing bandwidth-related issues. This is a feature that its closest rival, Sony PlayStation Now, does not offer as games can only be streamed directly from the cloud.
Moreover, once a Game Pass subscriber, you will also have the liberty to download, delete, and re-download games at any stage. If you like a game enough to want to own it, you can buy it at a cut-rate price, 20% less than non-subscribers. Additionally, you’ll be able to save an extra 10% on the cost of game add-ons.
While full details on the over 100 games that will feature in the Game Pass service are yet to be disclosed, we do know that popular titles such as Halo 5: Guardians, LEGO Batman, Mad Max, NBA 2K16, and Gears of War, amongst others, will be available for download.
Interestingly, Microsoft has an existing service called Xbox Live Gold that also allows members to download games for offline gameplay. However, the new Game Pass edges out Xbox Live Gold in terms of user experience. Under Xbox Live Gold, members can continue playing downloaded games even once they have left the collection. With Game Pass, however, access to the downloaded games is revoked should users stop subscribing to the service.
As of now, gamers eagerly anticipate the new service Microsoft brings to the table with the Xbox Game Pass. The imminent launch of Project Scorpio only stokes the excitement further. With this move, Microsoft undoubtedly aims to revolutionize the way we engage with console gaming.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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