Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Arrives June 1 (Updated)

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By Rexly Peñaflorida
published

Update, 6/1/2017, 2:13 p.m. PDT: Xbox Game Pass is now available for all Xbox users starting with a 14-day trial.

Original article: 5/24/17, 2:00pm PT:

In February, Microsoft announced the Xbox Game Pass, which would offer a plethora of Xbox One and backwards compatible Xbox 360 titles for $10 per month. In the previous months, the feature was in its testing phase for Xbox Insider Program members in the Alpha Preview ring, but starting next week, the service will be available to all Xbox One owners.

The so-called “Netflix for games” service is different than other similar products in that it will allow you to download a game from the service instead of the required constant connection to a Microsoft server. If you decide to buy a game that’s part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog, you’ll get a discount: 20% off the base games and 10% off of additional downloadable content. If you’re an Xbox Live Gold member, you can start the 14-day free trial for Xbox Game Pass today before everyone else gets to it on June 1.

On the Xbox Game Pass website, you’ll find the 112 games currently available, but Microsoft will continue to add new titles every month. You can take a look at the list of titles available at launch below. 

#IDARBA Kingdom for KeflingsA World of KeflingsAge of BootyBanjo Kazooie: N n BBanjo-KazooieBanjo-TooieBionic Commando: Rearmed 2BioShockBioShock 2BioShock InfiniteBlood Bowl 2BorderlandsBound by FlameBraidBrothers: A Tale of Two SonsCapcom Arcade CabinetCastleStormComic JumperComix ZoneD4: Dark Dreams Don’t DieDark Voidde Blob 2Defense GridDefense Grid 2Dig DugDmC: Devil May Cry Definitive EditionDouble Dragon NeonDungeons and Dragons: Chronicles of MystaraElectronic Super JoyFable IIIFarming Simulator 15Final Fight: Double ImpactFlock!Galaga Legions DXGears of WarGears of War 2Gears of War 3Gears of War: JudgementGears of War: Ultimate EditionGrid 2Halo 5: GuardiansHalo: Spartan AssaultHexic 2Iron BrigadeJetpac RefuelledJoe Danger 2: The MovieJoe Danger Special EditionJoy Ride TurboJumpJet RexKameoKnight SquadThe King of Fighters ‘98: Ultimate MatchKYUBLayers of FearLego Batman: The Video GameLumoMad MaxMassive ChalicMax: The Curse of BrotherhoodMega Coin SquadMega Man Legacy CollectionMetal Slug 3Monday Night CombatMs. Splosion ManMX vx. ATV ReflexN+NBA 2K16Neo Geo Battle ColiseumOperation Flashpoint: Dragon RisingOlliOlliPac-Man Championship Edition DX+Pac-Man MuseumPayday 2: Crimewave EditionPerfect Dark ZeroPumped BMX+Resident Evil 0RoundaboutSacred 3Saints Row IV: Re-ElectedSam & Max: Beyond Time and SpaceSam & Max: Save the WorldSamurai Shodown IIScreamRideSega Vintage Collection: Alex Kidd & Co.Sega Vintage Collection: Golden AxeSega Vintage Collection: Monster WorldSega Vintage Collection: Streets of RageShantae and the Pirate’s CurseSoul CaliburSoul Calibur II HDSpelunkySplosion ManStackingSteredennStriderSunset OverdriveSuper Mega Baseball: Extra InningsSuper Time ForceTekken Tag Tournament 2TerrariaThe Book of Unwritten Tales 2The Golf ClubThe MaxThe SwapperToy SoldiersToy Soldiers: Cold WarVirtua Fighter 5: Final ShowdownViva PiñataViva Piñata: Trouble in ParadiseWWE 2K16XCOM: Enemy Within

Rexly Peñaflorida
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Timithori
    I can't be the only person who is tired of seeing video ads in the middle of an article, thinking it has something to do with the article itself...
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    So... what is this? Do you have unlimited access to play any of these games while you're a subscriber? If so, what's the point of buying them?
    Reply
  • HEXiT
    theres no point mate. in fact i would recommend every 1 let this crap die...
    m.s removed backwards compatibility when it was free. now you can have it as long as you pay.... GTFO!.
    Reply
  • dstarr3
    Well, I mean, I don't even have an X-Box nor do I want one. I'm just curious what the model is here.
    Reply
  • markbrownn
    Paid thing and another marketing tactic to get more sales, hah, nice try MS!
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    19734126 said:
    So... what is this? Do you have unlimited access to play any of these games while you're a subscriber? If so, what's the point of buying them?
    It's month to month. You could pay $10, play some games for a month (maybe beat a couple) and IF you want to buy one you really like (and want to keep and play even if you're no longer subscribing) then you get a 20% discount. It's really not a bad deal if you're not a collector (such as myself). It actually reminds me of my younger days, renting cartridge games at Blockbuster. Only this is better and more convenient. I personally will continue to buy and hoard games, but even I can objectively look at this like a sort of super duper rental service.

    Compare that to any similar subscription gaming service. I think you'll find this is going to quickly become the best value. It has both Xbox 360 and XB1 games available, it's cheap, and the library will grow every month. Also as the article points out you actually download the games and run them locally, instead of streaming them, which is a huge plus. The added latency and reliability issues of remote-rendered streaming games are not worth it if you don't have perfect internet all the time.

    19734416 said:
    theres no point mate. in fact i would recommend every 1 let this crap die...
    m.s removed backwards compatibility when it was free. now you can have it as long as you pay.... GTFO!.
    Wrong - not even close. This doesn't replace backwards compatibility. All backwards compatible 360 titles continue to work like they did before. This isn't the Sony implementation. In fact, the Game Pass service actually complements BC and encourages MS to continue implementing more BC games. Any Xbox 360 game they add to Game Pass must be made backwards compatible first... and thus they'll continue to increase their BC library just as they have been.
    Reply
  • HEXiT
    microsoft stopped backwards compatibility back in 2007 when they stopped releasing emulation profiles.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    19768855 said:
    microsoft stopped backwards compatibility back in 2007 when they stopped releasing emulation profiles.
    Stop spreading your ignorance, please. We're talking about playing Xbox 360 and Xbox One games on an Xbox One via Game Pass. What you're referring to (clearly unwittingly) is the backwards compatibility of Classic Xbox on the Xbox 360. That has nothing to do with Game Pass and is completely irrelevant to this article. If you don't game on Xbox One, that's fine, but just leave Xbox information to people who know what they're talking about.

    http://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/gaming/595132/Xbox-One-Backwards-Compatibility-games-list-Xbox-360-Microsoft

    They just added new titles to backwards compatibility on May 26th. They use the BC feature to allow owners of 360 discs (and in most cases digital purchases) to play their existing already-purchased games, so long as they are compatible. They use BC to offer Xbox 360 games for free via Games for Gold. They also use BC to sell many of these 360 games to people who do not already own them, but who want to play them on an XB1. They now also use BC to enable many Xbox 360 titles to be playable via Game Pass, alongside Xbox One titles. That library will grow, but it does not change their existing backwards compatible plans. You'll still be able to play compatible Xbox 360 games on XB1 in the same fashion as before, and the BC library continues to grow both for Game Pass users and non-Game Pass users.
    Reply
  • HEXiT
    my point was it was free. now they want you to pay for it.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    19776042 said:
    my point was it was free. now they want you to pay for it.
    You're not listening. There's no way you could have actually read my post, understood it, and then still say something completely wrong like that, unless you're a troll. Is this guy a troll? Well I'll just repeat myself anyway:

    Backwards compatibility is still free if you own the backwards compatible games! Put in disc, play game.

    The Game Pass is something completely different - it's like a "monthly rental program" for people who DON'T own the games! Does not replace or change the FREE backwards compatibility!
    Reply