Xbox continues to evolve its content offerings through services such as Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Ahead of the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase later this week, the company revealed major upgrades for its gaming services.
The Xbox Game Pass subscription service offers an immense amount of Xbox and third party games. From original Xbox classics to the latest Xbox Series X|S releases, games are cycled through the service every month. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier gives subscribers access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is an alternative for playing major Xbox games through a cloud solution. By utilizing Xbox Cloud Gaming, gamers may take titles such as Forza Horizon 5 and play it through the cloud on a mobile device.
Xbox revealed a sweeping range of upgrades for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Later this year, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play select games they already own or have purchased outside the Xbox Game Pass library through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming expands its reach to Argentina and New Zealand as subscribers may try out the cloud service in beta starting today. Additionally, Xbox revealed Project Moorcroft, a new program for Xbox Game Pass subscribers launching within the next year with curated demos of upcoming games. Project Moorcroft will begin with a focus on providing independent partners with ways to build excitement for its games with Xbox Game Pass.
In partnership with Samsung, Samsung 2022 Smart TVs will receive the Xbox app with Xbox Cloud Gaming capabilities. Through the partnership, hundreds of games from the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library will be available to subscribers without a console. The Xbox app on Samsung 2022 Smart TVs allows subscribers to play games directly through the cloud with a Microsoft account and a Bluetooth controller. Subscribers will be able to take advantage of Xbox Cloud Gaming through Samsung TVs starting June 30. Fortnite will be available for those without an Xbox Game Pass subscription, enabling new Samsung TV owners to try out cloud gaming without another investment.
These major upgrades are beneficial for Xbox Game Pass subscribers and provides even more value to the service. For example, the Samsung partnership brings Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming to an all new platform, the Smart TV. The partnership also allows new TV owners a chance to try out some of Xbox's services and introduce them into the Xbox ecosystem. More games will be played through Xbox Game Pass, which is ultimately one of Xbox's top priorities for expanding the service.
Some may argue that these upgrades take away from the perceived focus on Xbox's latest platform, the Xbox Series X|S. However, introducing Xbox Game Pass to more countries and platforms potentially brings attention to the latest console from Xbox. The Xbox Series X|S will continue to receive hundreds of games for many years to come.
Source: Xbox