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Cloud Gaming Is The New Standard
Cloud gaming is on the rise and it seems it's here to stay. With companies like Microsoft leading the charge with products like PC Game Pass and turning every electronic device you own into an Xbox (classic Skyrim memes anyone?) and the huge push to convert gaming into a digital-only experience, one has to wonder what gaming will look like in the next 10 years. Will couch gaming sessions join the memory of blowing off cartridges or wiping your favorite game disc off with your shirt before booting it up for an all-day gaming session with friends? As gamers trade in their second controller and game discs for digital account-locked games, high-end PCs, and subscription services to games one thing has become very clear. That time is already upon us.
Now while I could go through my nostalgic woes that's not what this blog is about. No, it's about something even more surprising especially coming from me if you have been a long-time listener of my podcast. Today I will talk about my experience with Microsoft's PC Game Pass. Oh boy.
Is Xbox's PC Game Pass Worth it?
The short answer. Yes, it is with some caveats.
PC Game Pass comes with almost all the bells and whistles of the Game Pass Ultimate plan save for access to certain console-exclusive games and features you more or less won't notice not having. You have the same access to day-one releases as your console counterparts nearly unlimited access to the steadily expanding library of games under the Microsoft banner and a decent amount of other perks with your membership such as EA Play and Riot Games benefits. You can sign up for $1 for the first month but it renews for $11.99 each subsequent month and in a time where everything is connected to a subscription eleven dollars a month could seem steep.
When Xbox granted me a free PC Game Pass subscription I immediately dove in to see what all the hype was about and got to try the day-one release perk with Bethesda's new game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Now I do admit getting to play the highly anticipated game (it's pretty good) the moment it was released without buying it outright was pretty exciting, but the luster soon faded as day one is just that. But gamers are drawn to the terms early-access and day one so I guess it works.
However, gaining access to some of my favorite classics was a huge draw for me. Titles I had considered lost to me since every one of my Xbox consoles gave up the ghost leaving me no way to play my favorite titles like Gears of War, or Halo. I immediately downloaded every exclusive title I could get my hands on. While I technically no longer owned the games, just being able to see them populate my PC gaming library as I hooked up my Xbox controller was enough for me.
PC Game Pass and Steam
So I am sure this is a big question for PC gamers as Steam is the main gaming hub for them. "What's the point of a PC Game Pass when I can just get it on Steam?" Well, there are a few things to consider here that I decided to check for myself. First and foremost you will have to pay the full price point for the new games when they come out, and with major developers putting out fewer demos for triple-A titles (mainly to guarantee sales good or bad) you run the risk of buying a game that's a flop and wasting time and money if you play longer than the Steam refund window allows. PC Game Pass allows you to play their new games from day one at no extra cost and play it through to the end which is a nice option when trying out games like Starfield.
Also, you would be lucky to see Xbox-only titles go on sale on Steam as often as PC Game Pass. I searched for the classic Gears of War games on Steam and found Gears of War 5 and Tactics. It was the same for Halo as I could only get the Halo Master Chief Collection and Infinite yet Halo 5 is missing preventing Steam-only users from completing the collection of both juggernaut titles on Steam alone. So unfortunately if you are like me and wish to complete the collection you have to buy them on the Xbox gaming app or via PC Game Pass.
Final Thoughts
While my original opinion about Game Pass remains largely unchanged I will say PC Game Pass is worth it if you wish to play the exclusive titles from Microsoft developers without paying for them upfront on Steam or can't wait for a sale that usually comes months later. Xbox still has a long way to go if they hope to swing the gaming masses in their favor of changing everything into a cloud-based service and to start they need more original IPs to fill their library with. For now, Bethesda has been leading the charge for them, but they can only do so much alone.
