Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s true next-generation Xbox

If you were heading to Microsoft’s Xbox gaming storefront yesterday to witness a demonstration of why next-gen gaming and the “world’s most powerful console” matter, you were probably a little disappointed. The Microsoft event presented a strong showcase for the future of content from Xbox and Xbox Game Studios, but it did little to convince me why I should buy an Xbox Series X. Instead, it made clear that the Xbox Series X is just one of You can play Xbox games in many ways, and that true next-gen focus from Microsoft is Xbox Game Pass.

I’ve been writing for months about the importance of Xbox Game Pass and Microsoft’s strategy of leveraging the subscription service to reach many millions more Xbox players than traditional consoles. Microsoft wants to build Netflix for video games, and early indications show that its gamble is already beginning to pay off with 10 million subscribers. Some developers are also reporting increases in game sales and more players, and Microsoft has some big plans ahead with xCloud for Game Pass, particularly around the ability to play games or demos instantly.

Microsoft yesterday showed nine of 15 of its studios, with five new titles from Xbox Game Studios and four new third-party games. It was a roadmap for Xbox Series X and its content, but more importantly, a roadmap for what to expect for Game Pass. There were a lot of games on display, even if it wasn’t exactly clear when we will play most of them. However, Microsoft was clearly committed throughout the showcase: each game will arrive on Xbox Game Pass on the first day.

Even Destiny 2, a game that is included with Google’s Stadia Pro subscription, will be heading to Xbox Game Pass in September. In spite of Destiny 2Due to content issues, it’s still a title played by over a million people every day on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Bungie also has big plans for Destiny 2 that extend beyond 2022, and while there’s no exclusive content deal here, it certainly sets Xbox up as he platform for Destination In the next years.

Bungie’s commitment to the Xbox Game Pass came about 20 minutes after Microsoft bragged Halo Infinite gameplay for the first time. Described as a “spiritual reboot” of Bungie’s original Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft has chosen to take aura in an open world direction for the foreseeable future. An eight-minute game demo showed off Master Chief’s new grappling hook, the open world aura ring, and the return of Brutes.

Image: 343 Industries

While it will have delighted hardcore aura For fans who see the Master Chief return to fight Grunts and Brutes, the gameplay did little to show why the Xbox Series X matters. Many had assumed Halo Infinite It would serve as a visual or technical showcase for the Xbox Series X, particularly since it is planned to launch alongside the new console.

the Halo Infinite the reveal of the game has left fans unimpressed by the game and the visuals, and the general art direction seems dated. Other fans just want to see why the open world matters and 343 Industries’ plans on how Halo Infinite it will adapt in the coming years. But there are still many of these questions left unanswered just a few months before launch.

“Halo Infinite continues the saga of the Master Chief of Halo 4 and Halo 5, and it’s really the beginning of the next generation of games for Aura,” Chris Lee explained, Halo Infinite head of study, in a question and answer session with the media yesterday. “We view this as a platform that will grow over time and continue to bring new stories. You don’t need to have multiple releases to have a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. We are thinking about how we do it in the coming years. “

It is not clear whether Halo Infinite It will be the type of system vendor you normally associate with next-gen consoles, but that might not matter. Microsoft doesn’t want you to have to buy a copy of Halo Infinite or even upgrade to a new Xbox Series X console to play as it will be available on both PC and Xbox One. Microsoft simply wants you to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, and with Halo Infinite Arriving on the first day on Xbox Game Pass later this year is a great reason to do so.

Microsoft’s Xbox games showcase has left the Xbox Series X as another entry point into Xbox Game Pass, rather than a necessary purchase. There are existing consoles that can also access Xbox Game Pass like the Xbox One S that Microsoft will continue to manufacture and sell. There are also the billion Windows 10 PCs or the millions of mobile devices that will have access to Xbox Game Pass through the xCloud stream. Xbox Series X is one of the best ways to play Xbox games, but it’s certainly not the only way or the broader approach to Microsoft’s ambitions with games.

Microsoft is also expected to launch a second cheaper next-gen Xbox, possibly as early as next month. This second console is designed as a more affordable option, with 1080p and 1440p monitors in mind. Microsoft is likely to reveal pricing for both the Xbox Series X and this second console, codenamed “Lockhart,” once it’s ready to officially confirm it exists.

It seems increasingly likely that this second next-gen Xbox will serve as Microsoft’s big boost for Xbox Game Pass and as a subscription-based Xbox. Microsoft already has Xbox All Access subscriptions that offer a digital edition of Xbox One S with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes access to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass. A cheaper, next-gen second Xbox would fit perfectly into Xbox All Access as an affordable subscription with access to Xbox Game Pass.

Image: Sony

Microsoft’s overall strategy with Xbox and Xbox Series X is clearly different from what Sony is doing with the PlayStation 5. Sony is taking the more traditional route with a next-gen launch, focused on exclusive games for the PS5. Microsoft is investing in long-term content to market Xbox Game Pass and try to reach more people than a traditional next-gen console launch.

Microsoft has spent the past few months teasing the technical details of its Xbox Series X console, but yesterday was a clear game showcase for Xbox Game Pass content rather than just the X Series. Microsoft has also downplayed the importance of the console. Xbox Series X, promising you won’t need to buy it to play “the Xbox Game Studios titles we will launch in the coming years.” While that message got a bit darker yesterday, it’s clear that some of the titles Microsoft showed just won’t launch in the coming years. Xbox One owners are likely to still be able to play them, only via xCloud streaming once Microsoft has updated their servers next year.

The Xbox Series X remains a powerful console that will enhance existing and future games for this next generation. But Microsoft still needs to clearly demonstrate that. We now know Microsoft’s plans for Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass content for years to come, but more is needed to demonstrate why “the world’s most powerful console” matters.

While the next stop is the hefty price tag for Xbox Series X, it is undoubtedly very clear that subscribing to Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s true focus for its next generation of Xbox games. Microsoft no longer measures its Xbox success by console sales, but by how many people play Xbox games through an Xbox Game Pass subscription in the future.