Regardless of the sales race between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, Microsoft has always had a crucial advantage when viewed through the eyes of PC gamers: Xbox Play Anywhere. That service lets gamers buy a growing selection of titles (such as Forza Horizon 4 and Gears of War 5) on one platform and play them on both, frequently boasting cross-platform multiplayer and progression. But now the Xbox One's truly killer Netflix-style gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, is also landing on PC.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced the company's intention during its FY19 Q1 earnings call. According to Windows Central, Nadella did not provide an exact timeline or detail how Microsoft would integrate Xbox Games Pass into Windows 10, but my guess is it would either be incorporated into the existing Xbox app for Windows 10 or the tragically problematic Windows Store.
This is a big deal. Between robust backwards-compatibility with original Xbox and Xbox 360 games, plus a pro cross-platform stance, Microsoft is genuinely trying to boost its cred with Xbox gamers. Earlier this year it announced that all first-party games (like Crackdown 3 and Halo 6) would be included in the $9.99 Game Pass subscription on day 1. That made an already compelling subscription service a no-brainer.
Now, the 100+ title Game Pass library will become available to PC players as well, not merely the 15 or so Play Anywhere titles. This isn't attractive just because of the existing Game Pass lineup, either. Consider the fact that Microsoft is snatching up additional game studios (like Ninja Theory) in a bid to bolster its offering of next-generation exclusives, and the future looks pretty bright for a service that, over the next few years, could be as natural to subscribe to as Xbox Live.
This move further blurs the line between "Microsoft the Software Company" and "Microsoft the Hardware Company." One could argue that as it continues to offer its most compelling Xbox services on PC that it risks cannibalizing Xbox One sales (or Xbox Next sales). Then again, maybe it sells more Windows 10 licenses. It will definitely sell more Game Pass subscriptions.
But one thing is certain. By the numbers, Microsoft knows it has lost this generation's console war, but it's making serious moves to win the next one by offering customers the one thing they value most: choice.
