Summary
Xbox Game Passis arguably the best deal in gaming right now. Since Microsoft debuted the service in 2017, many have hailed it as a win for consumers. One of the major draws of the service was the company’s promise that any Xbox exclusive titles would be available on Game Pass at launch. Day-one access to exclusive games would normally be a major upside for any similar gaming subscription. While the offer still beats the subscription offerings of Sony and Nintendo in many respects, the lack of compelling exclusive games on Xbox is making that monthly commitment harder to justify.
For those invested in Xbox’s ecosystem, the last couple of years seemed promising. Microsoft’s acquisition spree of hit-making developers such as Bethesda and id Software made it seem as though quality titles would soon be on their way to Xbox. However, this hasn’t really played out.Starfieldreceived a lukewarm reception, often feeling dated and formulaic. Arkane Austin’sRedfallwas such an unmitigated disasteron nearly every front that it prompted the Microsoft Gaming CEO to issue an apology. Just as it seemed like it couldn’t get worse for the green brand,Xbox’s Summer Showcase may signal a big comeback.
Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Will Get Another Day-One Game On July 16
For those looking for something new to play on Xbox Game Pass in July, another day one title has been announced, and it sounds rather delicious!
Microsoft Spent A Lot, With Not A Lot To Show For It… For Now, At Least
Xbox Exclusives Have Been Underwhelming, But The 2024 Showcase Shows Promise
Team Xbox certainly had to be feeling the heat leading up to this year’s big Xbox Games Showcase, and it did not disappoint.The presentation received near-universal approval from critics and consumers, boasting an impressive list of must-play titles, most of which will be available at launch on the increasingly vital Game Pass service. Highlights includeGears of War: E-Day, a prequel exploring the series’ origins through a young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, and theresurrection of thePerfect Darkfranchise, a highly regarded, but often overlooked first-person shooter from developer Rare, now poised to step out from behindGoldenEye’s shadow.
Thelist of every day-one Game Pass release at the Xbox Showcaseis quite lengthy, and includes far more than first-party titles.
The rumoredDoom: Dark Ageswas also confirmed to be real, along with a new look atDragon Age: The Veilguard, the first new installment in theDragon Ageseries in over a decade. Microsoft desperately needed to drop some announcements that would grab the internet’s attention, and distract from its recent news cycle of studio closures and layoffs, and the presentation delivered. However, despite this impressive list of games, there is one thing Xbox seems eager to sell more than any single title: Game Pass. With most of the announced games coming to Game Pass at launch,the service is the real product.
Will Releasing Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Be A Win For Game Pass?
COD On Game Pass At Launch Is A Financial Gamble
The ultimate test of this strategy will come in late October with therelease ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 6, a game that will be available on Game Pass at launch.Call of Dutyis an annual financial juggernaut, andMicrosoft is making a huge fiscal bet that offeringCODon Game Pass will bring in enough new subscriptions to outweigh the individual sales the $70 title would have otherwise brought in.Additionally, with Game Pass available on both home consoles and PC, selling the subscription service may be more crucial to Xbox’s bottom line than even console sales.
Knowing what may or may not prove successful for a gaming brand can be like reading tea leaves to learn the future. It’s quite possible that Microsoft has a grander plan for Xbox in the long term, one that is hard to see from the outside. With so many once-exclusive Xbox titles making their way to other consoles, Game Pass, rather than exclusive games, may be where Microsoft is placing its bets. It’s important to remember that a handful of exciting announcements can flip consumer sentiment quickly. The Xbox Summer Showcase delivered on the hype, and hopefully,Game Passcan too.
Xbox Series X/S
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are two consoles Microsoft released in November 2020. Like most Xbox models, the Xbox Series X/S was the main competitor to the PlayStation 5. The consoles were the successors to Microsoft’s Xbox One line. While the PS5 and Xbox Series X are comparable interns of graphics, the Xbox Series S provides less powerful graphics around 1080p-1440p and does not contain a disc drive.
