Today, Microsoft announced that all first-party published games produced by Redmond will launch straight into Xbox Game Pass.
Update, January 23, 2018: We asked Microsoft if this meant that upcoming Microsoft Studios would be permanently included as part of Xbox Game Pass, to which they replied that all games would continue to cycle in and out of the pool of available titles. While that didn't answer my question directly, it sounds as though Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, etc, might only be available in Game Pass for a limited time, before they become available to purchase permanently at a discount. We've asked for further clarification, but Microsoft said that was all they had to share at this time.
Xbox Game Pass is a Netflix-like monthly subscription service that provides download access to over 100 titles at just $9.99 per month. And with today's announcement, all upcoming exclusives like Sea of Thieves, State of Decay 2, Crackdown 3, and all future unannounced Xbox exclusives will hit Xbox Game Pass as soon as they launch.
Today, we announced that all new games published by Microsoft Studios will be released into Xbox Game Pass on the same date as their global release. This means that when "Sea of Thieves" launches on March 20, it will be included in Xbox Game Pass to all members.
This plan to bring new games timed with their global release into Xbox Game Pass not only includes announced titles like "Sea of Thieves,""State of Decay 2," and "Crackdown 3" but future unannounced games from Microsoft Studios including new iterations of our biggest Xbox One exclusive franchises such as Halo, Forza and Gears of War, on the same day they launch.
The inclusion of all upcoming Microsoft Studios exclusives shows that Redmond has a huge amount of faith in the service, which provides some truly tremendous value. The titles available as part of Xbox Game Pass cycle in and out, but it sounds as though all Microsoft Studios titles will remain permanent fixtures in the lineup, similarly to Netflix's original content.
For more information on Xbox Game Pass, take a look at our comprehensive FAQ.