As Microsoft progressed, online streaming services like Netflix and Spotify demonstrated successful subscription business models that led Microsoft to transition Arches to also follow a subscription model eventually into Game Pass. One of the ideas generated during this time was a game rental service, and a project to establish this service was started under the code name Arches. Spencer, after taking over the Xbox brand, recognized he needed to put the Xbox in a better position as they planned for the next generation of the console, while reinvigorating the team he had with new ideas for this, even if his ideas were risky.

Mattrick had positioned the Xbox One as more of an entertainment hub and not a gaming console, and certain design decisions made prior to launch had to be reverted following negative criticism of this positioning from consumers and the media. First was with Phil Spencer taking over for Don Mattrick as the head of the Xbox brand at Microsoft following the troubled launch of the Xbox One in 2013.

Xbox Live Gold will be discontinued in September 2023, with the service being merged into Xbox Game Pass as a new low price tier, Xbox Game Pass Core, which will offer a limited set of free titles to subscribers.Ĭonception of what would become Game Pass came from two areas. Microsoft has also offered access to Electronic Arts' EA Play service for PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. all new Xbox Game Studios titles are available to Game Pass subscribers immediately upon their release. The service features titles from Xbox Game Studios and other third-party publishers since January 2018. A premium tier known as Game Pass Ultimate includes access to both services, an on-demand cloud gaming service available on console, PC, and mobile platforms, and Xbox Live Gold subscription benefits. Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass are available as separate subscription products. The service consists of two products Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Series X, and Series S consoles, and PC Game Pass for PCs running Windows 10 and newer. Game Pass subscribers also receive discounts on purchases of games from the service's library and their respective downloadable content (DLC). Launched on June 1, 2017, the service allows users to download and play video games for Xbox video game consoles or Microsoft Windows PCs from a rotating library, with the games remaining accessible as long as the user has an active subscription. Game Pass is a subscription service offered by Microsoft as part of Xbox network.

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