Force Xbox Game Pass subscription service! Microsoft (MSFT.US) releases a large number of new games
Zhitong Finance APP has learned that Microsoft (MSFT.US) released dozens of new games for its subscription service Xbox Game Pass, some of which are from several large publishers the company has acquired in recent years.
It is reported that on Sunday, local time, Microsoft said at a showcase held in Los Angeles, the United States, that it will launch “Redfall” and “Starfield” next year by publisher Bethesda (acquired by Microsoft in 2020) Among them, “Redfall” is a first-person shooter game, and “Starfield” is a role-playing game set in space. Additionally, Microsoft highlighted Activision Blizzard’s (AVTI.US) Overwatch 2, which will offer early access starting in October with a free-to-play multiplayer competitive mode, and a 2023 arrival. of Diablo IV.
All four of these games will be available on Xbox Game Pass, the subscription service at the heart of Microsoft’s gaming strategy and the main reason why Microsoft bought Bethesda for $7.5 billion and Activision Blizzard for $69 billion.
According to the data, Xbox Game Pass allows users to pay a monthly fee for unlimited access to all the games in the service, and the number of these games is still increasing. Microsoft has high expectations for Game Pass. The company revealed in January that the subscription service had gained 25 million subscribers, and users were required to pay Microsoft at least $10 a month.
Instead of a hardware showdown with Sony (SONY.US) and Nintendo, Microsoft is committed to establishing itself as the “Netflix of gaming.” In many ways, Microsoft has come close to doing just that.
Microsoft’s Game Showcase is one of its traditional annual events, usually during the E3 trade show. At E3, the world’s largest video game publishers come together to showcase their latest and upcoming game projects. But with this year’s E3 show canceled and other publishers like Ubisoft and Sony canceling their annual showcases, Microsoft’s event on Sunday was particularly in the spotlight for media and gaming enthusiasts.
During the showcase, Microsoft also announced a new Minecraft spin-off, Minecraft Legends, as well as several colorful indie games, such as an action game called Ravenlok and a game called Cocoon adventure game. All of these games will be available to players on Game Pass on their official launch day.
In addition, another highlight of Microsoft’s show this time is Pentiment. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a Microsoft-owned developer, the game is a medieval narrative adventure game with a unique art style. While the game doesn’t have battle scenes and probably won’t attract a large number of players, it could be a good fit for Game Pass, and many experimental titles that don’t necessarily need to get a lot of sales are a good fit for the service.
Microsoft is also positioning Game Pass as a service that benefits other free games. During the show, Riot Games said it would partner with Xbox to give Game Pass subscribers access to premium content for its games, which include League of Legends and Valorant. All of these in-game heroes, which are usually sold separately, are available for free to all players who subscribe to Game Pass.