It might be time for an 'Xbox Game Pass Lite'

Xbox Game Pass Source: Matt Brownish | Windows Fundamental

Nosotros already have Xbox Game Pass for Console, for PC, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Do nosotros really need more? Here's why I think the answer to that is yes!

Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's big Netflix-like gaming service that continues to make headlines. Just recently, Microsoft caused Bethesda and ZeniMax'south subsidiary studios, boosting Game Pass with over 20 new games. Additionally, Microsoft recently revealed that Outriders is dropping day one into the service, which marks a get-go for a major 3rd-party AAA game.

Xbox Game Laissez passer is at the forefront of Microsoft'south lofty appetite to accomplish all of the world's 2-3 billion gamers, cramming its service with some of the best Xbox games out there. To achieve this, Microsoft is betting on new markets spear-headed by Xbox Game Laissez passer for PC, equally well every bit Xbox Game Pass on mobile phones, and presently, the web. It'south with that in mind that I wonder if it's time for a dedicated cloud version for Xbox Game Pass, called "Xbox Game Pass Light," or "Xbox Game Pass Go," which could also circumvent some potential issues with competing storefront policies.

Best of the best

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass top tier

Over 2 hundred games. Ane monthly fee. Panel, PC, and cloud. What are you lot waiting for?

Entry to deject gaming

Ipega Android Game Controller Xcloud Source: Windows Cardinal

Right now, to get access to Xbox Game Laissez passer for cloud gaming, you have to buy in at the most expensive tier — Game Pass Ultimate. I've always felt this was a little chip strange if this is supposedly designed to be your nigh accessible format for the service. With Game Pass Ultimate, you lot also get Game Pass for panel and Game Pass for PC, merely I often wonder if cloud-first gamers would be interested in using these services or not.

It could be that the $15 per calendar month Xbox Game Laissez passer Ultimate tier is the best and most toll-effective way to fund the service, given the massive investment to build the server infrastructure. Nevertheless, practice potential users expect at Xbox Game Pass for PC and console on Game Pass Ultimate and think "well, I don't have an Xbox or a gaming PC, so why would I subscribe to Ultimate just to get the cloud feature?" In that vein, a cheaper, cloud-only option for Xbox Game Laissez passer be a proficient mode to market place the service to new users who perhaps aren't necessarily interested in grabbing an Xbox panel or a gaming PC.

Razer Kishi Wide Source: Windows Central

A cheaper, deject-only "Xbox Game Laissez passer Go" could likewise be an interesting option for families. I've heard that Microsoft is exploring some form of a "family programme" for Xbox Game Pass, simply at that place are hurdles to overcome with third-party publishers to that finish. If y'all take a younger sibling or child, grabbing a cheaper subscription to give them admission to cross-platform games similar Minecraft Dungeons could be a cost-effective alternative while we wait for a full-blown family unit plan option.

Indeed, third-political party published games create a range of issues.

An option for third-party stores

Source: Windows Central

The Google Play Store and iOS App store have strict rules about how games can be delivered by their partners, and there'southward a potential conflict for third parties in game distribution. Google, iOS, and others would rather you play games via their storefront. Apple tree is notorious for blocking competing streaming services, arbitrarily enforcing rules for games that it doesn't enforce for music or amusement.

Apple anti-competitively wants to block xCloud and similar services, perhaps driven by fright of losing another paradigm shift similar to how they lost out to Spotify and Netflix.

Microsoft would put Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles too, if given the risk.

Apple tree's app store has already noted that information technology wants Microsoft to sell every game on Xbox Game Pass as a dissever entity, despite not requiring Netflix or Spotify to practice the same for the content on their respective platforms. Google Play as well has rules nearly how in-app purchases tin can happen through its storefront, putting a limitation on the types of games that can be distributed through Xbox Game Pass on Android.

I feel like Microsoft would put Xbox Game Laissez passer on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles as well, if given the chance. When Xbox head Phil Spencer was on stage discussing the Bethesda acquisition, he very carefully noted that this was about platforms that support Xbox Game Pass — not necessarily Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. There's a conflict there for Sony and Nintendo, since they would naturally adopt it if you were playing their games sold through their storefronts. The likelihood of PlayStation accepting Xbox Game Pass is pretty slim, merely given that the Nintendo Switch has a big operation delta against PC and Xbox, though, I could run across a possibility of a slimmed-down, Xbox Game Studios-focused cloud version of Game Pass for Nintendo Switch that wouldn't necessarily compete directly with Nintendo'south store.

A smaller library of games that are wholly owned by Microsoft would reduce conflict with other storefronts, potentially, allow Microsoft to use those storefront'southward payment systems for in-app purchases, and allow them to deliver its own games to platforms that might not be powerful plenty to run them natively.

Arresting Xbox Live Gilded

Xbox Live Sign Source: Windows Central

Recently, people noticed that Microsoft had de-emphasized the "Xbox Live" branding in some aspects of the Xbox Os. Microsoft after noted that while it isn't removing the Xbox Live branding completely, it is decoupling it from some system features that are now just commonplace components of owning an Xbox.

I've written before near my conventionalities that years downward the line, Xbox Live Gold as a subscription service could go away. I think one way to showtime a shift in mentality almost Xbox Live Golden is to perchance fold it into any prospective cloud-just "Game Pass Lite" service. Xbox Live Golden has already been a contentious issue in the community, given that Xbox Game Pass PC players don't have to pay for it to access multiplayer. And with the rise of cross-platform competitive gaming in titles like Call of Duty and Fortnite, the statement for paywalling multiplayer is waning.

Folding Xbox Live Golden into an entry-level form of Xbox Game Pass would help to farther the adoption of Xbox Game Pass, and help abound Xbox'southward cloud aspirations at the aforementioned time.

More options on Xbox Game Pass, more than users

Xbox Game Pass at Gamescom 2022 Source: Matt Brown / Windows Fundamental

Xbox Game Pass is all almost accessibility and ease of utilize. The fewer barriers your service has, the more users y'all will acquire. Apparently, there are profitability constraints to consider, but the central barriers tend to be price and platform.

Getting Xbox Game Pass to more platforms will increase its growth. If a cheaper version, potentially with fewer games, can circumvent skepticism from Apple, Nintendo, and others, it may exist worthwhile considering to further grow the platform. A cheaper variant may besides serve as a gateway to higher-tier subscriptions to Game Pass regular up to Ultimate, in similar way to how Netflix has college-paid tiers for 4K streaming.

It could too be the case that Xbox Game Pass is already inexpensive as information technology perchance tin can be without losing tons of money. I don't take the data to back that upwardly, but I experience it in my gaming guts that a subscription tier that is, at least, deject-only is missing from the lineup correct at present. Either style, the futurity of Game Pass is an intriguing one.

All the games

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Netflix, simply for games

An endless supply of games awaits with Xbox Game Pass, giving admission to over 200 titles on Xbox, PC, and Android devices for one low monthly payment.

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