PC Game Pass provides an excellent combination of affordability and a diverse game library, making it particularly appealing to casual gamers.
However, the titles available through Game Pass often lag behind those on competing platforms, missing out on modern enhancements such as DLSS.
Additionally, modifying games from PC Game Pass can be cumbersome, particularly due to complications with integrating secondary launchers.
While PC Game Pass claims to deliver hundreds of games for a mere few dollars each month, the service tends to fall short of expectations. For many users, including one individual’s experience, it frequently fails to function as promised, leading to a situation where they end up paying for a subscription without the ability to enjoy any games. Clearly, the service requires further refinement.
At present, a subscription to PC Game Pass costs $11.99 per month, although regional pricing allows some users, like this individual, to access it for just under $7. Regardless of the price point, the vast array of available games represents significant value. For someone who typically plays a game only once and moves on, this service is ideal. In fact, if they ever decide to revisit a title later on, purchasing it at a discounted rate years down the line proves to be more economical than paying full price at release.
When evaluating the primary value proposition of PC Game Pass, there are no complaints to be found. The service appears excellent in theory; however, issues arise from its technical execution.
One notable frustration with Game Pass games on PC is that they frequently lag behind their Steam counterparts by a patch or two. This situation can lead to instances where a game is simultaneously launched on both platforms, but the Steam version boasts enhancements and features like DLSS, which may be absent in the Game Pass edition.
It is perplexing that different platforms cannot offer the same up-to-date version of a game. Regardless of the underlying reasons, this discrepancy often results in the Game Pass variant appearing and performing inferiorly compared to other digital marketplaces.
Another challenge lies in modding capabilities. With the implementation of Advanced Installation and Management, players now have the ability to install games into unrestricted folders, allowing access to game files for modding purposes. For those who have not engaged with PC Game Pass and its Xbox app recently, there has been a significant update: every game now prompts users to select their installation location. This is a welcome improvement for individuals with multiple storage drives.
As an example, installing Avowed through PC Game Pass exemplifies this new feature.
Despite a more mod-friendly approach, modifying Game Pass titles can still be a bit tricky compared to other platforms, and the reasons for this aren’t always apparent. Nonetheless, if one finds themselves modding a game primarily for enjoyment rather than technical enhancements, it likely indicates that they are invested enough in the game to consider purchasing it outright. Alternatively, it might suggest that the unmodified version of the game is so unengaging that it’s time to explore other options.
It’s important to note that the Game Pass edition of a game is essentially the version available through the Microsoft Store. In the writer’s view, this version is only justifiable if one wishes to take advantage of the “Play Anywhere” feature, which allows a single purchase to be playable on both PC and Xbox. Even with a Game Pass discount for acquiring the Windows Store variant of a game, the associated complications often outweigh the benefits when compared to purchasing the same title on platforms like Steam or GOG.
Moreover, integrating secondary launchers can be problematic. A PC Game Pass subscription includes the most basic tier of EA’s subscription service, along with access to games from Blizzard and Ubisoft. This requires the Xbox app to coordinate with these various launchers. We suspects that ensuring seamless functionality among all these systems is no small feat. Consequently, they tend to steer clear of Game Pass games that depend on external launchers, as it often results in a frustrating gamble that wastes valuable gaming time on updates and restarts instead of enjoying gameplay.
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