Games can be expensive. If you plan to pre-order the new Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War for the PC or the upcoming Xbox Series S and Series X, it may cost you no less than Rs. 4,000. The Ultimate Edition and add-on DLCs make the game even pricier. Single-player campaign games such as Hitman 2 and God of War also cost more than Rs. 4,000. Such titles have a storyline, and you may not replay them, once completed. Think you’re going to be spending a lot of money, gaming? Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass promises to help.
What is Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass gives you unlimited access to the Xbox game library for a monthly fee. This means, rather than paying for an individual game, you can pay a monthly fee to access a catalogue of games. Xbox Game Pass was introduced in 2017, and it now includes more than 250 games across genres. You can download, and play games without any restrictions, while you’re subscribed to Game Pass (and have an internet plan with unlimited data).
Who is it for?
Xbox Game Pass is perfect for gamers who don’t want to spend too much on games. It is also good for people who don’t care about playing games on the launch day. This doesn’t mean you can’t play newer games with the subscription. The latest titles from Xbox Game Studios are available to Xbox Game Pass members on the first day of their release. This means members can download games such as Halo Infinite the day it releases, this December. Microsoft also adds third-party games to the subscription, but it can take a while.
Paying a monthly fee is more affordable, than paying larger sums for individual games. You aren’t buying the games with the subscription, which means you can try games and uninstall them later, if you don’t like them.
Xbox Game Pass includes a variety of games, and Microsoft says they keep updating adding new games every month. EA Play will be joining hands with Microsoft, arriving on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on 11th November, the same day Microsoft ships the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. This means, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will have access to AAA titles such as Battlefield V, FIFA 2020, Need for Speed: Heat and more.
What are the subscription plans?
Xbox Game Pass is available in three plans. Here is a quick look.
|
Categories |
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate |
Xbox Game Pass |
Xbox Game Pass for PC |
|
Platform |
PC/Xbox |
Xbox |
PC |
|
No. of games |
250+ |
250+ |
200+ |
|
EA Play |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
xCloud |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
|
Xbox Live Gold |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Monthly Price |
Rs. 699* |
Rs. 489* |
Rs. 489* |
Microsoft has tried to keep the Xbox Game Pass plans simple. If you are a PC or laptop gamer, the Game Pass for PC is for you, whereas the Xbox Game Pass is for console gamers. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers you benefits of both subscriptions, along with additional free games, discounts and online multiplayer access with Xbox Live Gold. The Game Pass Ultimate also gives you access to Project xCloud, which is Microsoft’s cloud gaming service that lets you play PC and console games on Android devices. This service is now available in India, and it requires your device to be connected to a 5GHz Wi-Fi network or a high-speed mobile data network.
Popular titles on Xbox Game Pass
Forza Horizon 4
Resident Evil 7
Microsoft Flight stimulator
Destiny 2
Wasteland 3
So,is it worth it?
Whether Xbox Game Pass is worth the money depends on your gaming habit. Xbox Game Pass is a great value for gamers who want to play a variety of games, but don’t want to buy them individually. It’s a monthly subscription, which means you ought to know which games you want to play, and how quickly you plan on finishing them. Xbox Game Pass largely gives you access to older games, which can be cheaper. For example, Halo 3: ODST costs Rs. 329* in the Xbox Library, and completing the game may take a few weeks or even months. If you are planning to play the game at your leisure, buying an individual copy might make sense. However, if you plan on completing the series in a few days, and move on to a new game, Xbox Game Pass might be a good deal.
Xbox Game Pass is like Netflix, but for games. Your subscription gives you access to exclusive games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator: Standard, which costs Rs. 3,999 when purchased individually. You can pay a monthly fee as low as Rs. 489* to access the game. All the achievements and game progress are stored in Xbox cloud servers, which means you can re-subscribe the Game Pass, to play again from where you left off. Microsoft is currently offering an introductory Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, at a low fee of Rs. 50. You’ll be charged Rs.699* after a month, until you cancel the subscription. You can make changes to your subscription on your Microsoft account’s Services and subscription page.
* Prices are subject to change. Refer to the vendor’s site for the latest pricing.
