Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition Unveiled: 50+ Games, Limited Streaming, and No Console Multiplayer

By: Anton Kratiuk | today, 12:19

More information is emerging about the new Xbox Game Pass plan, which is designed to expand the subscription audience as part of Microsoft's new gaming division strategy.

Previously, Asha Sharma hinted at a collaboration between Xbox Game Pass and Discord, after which an official teaser was released.

Later, the first information about the Game Pass Starter Edition plan was found in the Xbox Cloud Gaming code, but at that time it lacked details. Now a reputable French insider, billbil-kun, has revealed key details of the new gaming subscription.

What's Known

The insider confirmed that the subscription will indeed be called Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition and will be officially launched in mid-May. It will somehow be connected with the Discord Nitro subscription, which costs $9.99 per month. It is likely that by subscribing to one service, the user will get access to both—such a scheme was previously described by The Verge journalists.

Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition will offer gamers minimal functionality, but sufficient to get acquainted with the service. The subscription includes more than 50 games, but with one substantial limitation—cloud gaming will only be available for 10 hours a month.

The general catalog of the plan is similar to Game Pass Essential, including game availability on PC, Xbox, and “compatible devices” (this refers to portable consoles and possibly Smart-TVs).

An important difference in Game Pass Starter Edition will be the lack of access to online modes in console games, for example, if you buy Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 or Battlefield 6, you will not be able to connect to multiplayer. Nevertheless, the subscription will provide a number of in-game bonuses and includes the Xbox Rewards program.

billbil-kun revealed the list of games that will be available in the Starter Edition and noted that it is not identical to the Essential plan. The insider points out that Doom 64 and Psychonauts (PC version) will be included in the Starter Edition, but they are absent from the basic set. Conversely, Goat Simulator, available until April 30 as part of Essential, is not offered in Starter. It is likely that these discrepancies are related to the upcoming update of the Essential catalog.

Another interesting detail: unlike Essential, free games, such as Call of Duty Warzone, will not be included in Game Pass Starter.

Game List for Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition

  • Among Us
  • ASTRONEER
  • Batman: Arkham Knight
  • Celeste
  • Chivalry 2
  • Cities: Skylines — Remastered7. Control Ultimate Edition
  • Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
  • DayZ
  • Dead Cells
  • Deep Rock Galactic
  • Descenders
  • Dishonored 2
  • Disney Dreamlight Valley
  • DOOM 64
  • DOOM Eternal
  • Fable Anniversary
  • Fallout 4
  • Fallout 76
  • Firewatch
  • Gang Beasts
  • Gears 5 (GOTY Edition)
  • Golf With Your Friends
  • Grounded
  • Hades
  • Halo 5: Guardians
  • Halo Wars 2
  • Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
  • Human Fall Flat
  • INSIDE
  • LIMBO
  • Medieval Dynasty
  • Monster Sanctuary
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps
  • Overcooked! 2
  • PAYDAY 2: CRIMEWAVE EDITION
  • PowerWash Simulator
  • Psychonauts39. Psychonauts 2
  • Retro Classics
  • Slay The Spire
  • SnowRunner
  • Spiritfarer®: Farewell Edition
  • Stardew Valley
  • State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
  • Stellaris
  • SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE
  • Superliminal
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Standard Edition
  • Totally Reliable Delivery Service
  • TUNIC
  • Unpacking
  • Vampire Survivors
  • Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
  • Warhammer: Vermintide 2
  • World War Z
  • Wreckfest

Source: Dealabs