As a veteran PC gamer with a preference for Sony's PlayStation consoles, I’m a late convert to the delights of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription service. I often play the same games for weeks, but my Steam library is bristling with unplayed titles, and my kids have an insatiable thirst for new games. I was skeptical about the quality and depth of Game Pass (and game subscription services generally). But buying a steady stream of games for me, my wife, and my two kids was getting expensive.
Paying out $60 for a game they simply must have, only to find they're bored with it after a week, wasn't sustainable. My wife and I tend to only buy games we know we're going to like, which is an alien concept for kids. What finally persuaded me to sign up was my crestfallen daughter, who found herself unable to join her game-hopping Xbox friends, who all seem to have Game Pass. Hearing squeals of laughter as she racks up hours with pals in Sea of Thieves and Human Fall Flat goes a long way to justifying the cost, but what has made Game Pass Ultimate a vital part of our household are the PC games.
An unexpected benefit is that my kids and I readily try more games now, playing titles that might have passed us by. Game Pass not only helps us discover games we like but also lets us drop titles we don’t. It is less risky to take a chance on something, and not feeling like you have to stick with a game because you bought it is freeing. We are gaming more than ever.
