Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere initiative has reached a significant milestone, now featuring over 1,000 compatible games that allow seamless gameplay across Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. Launched in 2016 with popular titles, the program has expanded through partnerships and acquisitions. Many games are accessible via the Game Pass Ultimate subscription, enhancing the gaming experience across multiple devices. However, some notable titles, like *Baldur’s Gate 3*, remain outside this ecosystem. The initiative continues to attract interest as Microsoft evolves its offerings.
Microsoft’s Xbox Play Anywhere Initiative Reaches New Heights
Nearly a decade has passed since Microsoft began to unify the PC and console gaming worlds. Starting in 2016, the tech titan introduced a groundbreaking program that allowed gamers to purchase titles playable on both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs.
Dubbed Xbox Play Anywhere, this initiative kicked off with popular Microsoft franchises such as *Forza Horizon 3* and *Gears of War 4*. Over the years, it has expanded to include a wider array of games, thanks in part to collaborations with third-party publishers and acquisitions of notable companies like Bethesda Softworks and Activision-Blizzard. A prime example of this expansion is the recent RPG release, Avowed.
Milestone Achievement in Gaming Compatibility
This Thursday, Microsoft celebrated a significant achievement, announcing via a post on *Bluesky* that it now boasts over 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere compatible games. This impressive milestone means players can seamlessly continue their gaming progress across various platforms, whether on a supported PC, Xbox console, or handheld device.
With such a robust offering, Microsoft presents compelling reasons for gamers to explore its platform. Many of these compatible titles are also included in the Game Pass Ultimate subscription, priced at €17.99 per month. This makes a plethora of games accessible without needing to make additional purchases. Gamers can enjoy both classic titles like *Sea of Thieves*, *Subnautica*, and *ARK*, as well as newer AAA games such as *Starfield*, *Doom: The Dark Ages*, and the anticipated *Silent Hill F*.
Moreover, Microsoft’s cloud gaming service significantly enhances the Xbox ecosystem, allowing users to play across a variety of devices, including consoles, PCs, Macs, smartphones, tablets, and even smart TVs. Our testing of the service on Fire TV proved to be a surprisingly enjoyable experience.
However, despite the impressive game library, certain high-profile titles have yet to embrace the Xbox Play Anywhere label. For instance, *Baldur’s Gate 3* is available on Xbox consoles but not through the Windows Xbox app. To complicate matters further, while this title can be played via cloud gaming, it is not part of the Game Pass lineup.
As Microsoft continues to refine its approach, particularly in clarifying its catalog, it’s clear that the gaming ecosystem is steadily evolving. While it may not pose an immediate threat to Steam’s dominance on PC, the appeal of Xbox Play Anywhere is undeniably drawing interest from gamers. Jason Ronald, the vice president overseeing the Xbox ecosystem, noted that titles under this program enjoy an average playtime that is 20% longer, thanks to the enhanced flexibility offered to players.
Looking ahead, the only thing left is for Microsoft to secure an agreement with Rockstar Games to include the highly anticipated GTA 6 in its ever-growing list of compatible games. If that happens, I might just reconsider my loyalty to Steam.