We’re fast approaching E3, and that means companies are revving their hype engines in preparation to go full throttle during their respective presentations. Microsoft is no exception, and today the tech giant announced massive plans to expand Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming to more devices while bringing more games along for the ride.
Besides stating it’s partnering with TV manufacturers and telecommunications companies to bring Game Pass and cloud gaming to more households around the world, Microsoft said that they’d make Game Pass even more compelling by giving it a new first-party title every quarter.
“With more than 23 studios worldwide creating games for Xbox, our goal is to release at least one new, first-party game into Game Pass every quarter,” wrote Microsoft on Xbox Wire this morning. “Role-playing games, shooters, strategy titles, adventure games, and more are all being built by our first party teams to ensure that there is a steady stream of compelling exclusive content to explore.”
Besides new first-party titles from Microsoft Studios, ID@Xbox is bringing even more indie projects to life than ever before. The program has earned indie studios over $2 billion since its inception in 2014, and now the same model is being used for a new project called ID@Azure, which will make new “cloud-based experiences.”
Even without the guarantee of a new first-party title every month, lots of people are finding Game Pass to be a compelling deal. Xbox’s recent survey revealed Game Pass subscribers play 30% more genres and 40% more games than non-members, while 90% said they’ve played a game they otherwise wouldn’t have.
And all that engagement has seen Microsoft’s gaming profits jump 50% compared to last year.
You can expect more game news from Microsoft at the joint Xbox/Bethesda conference on June 13. In the meantime, sign up for Game Pass now and you’ll get a free Disney+ subscription for a limited time.
