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Xbox Play Anywhere Lets You Buy Xbox One Game, Play on PC for Free

Buy it once, play it on PC and Xbox One.

By Tamoor Hussain on July 7, 2016 at 4:07PM PDT

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Play Anywhere program, which will allow games to be purchased once and then played across Xbox One and PC at no extra cost.

The announcement was made during Microsoft's E3 press conference, when The Coalition's Rod Fergusson appeared on stage to announce Gears of War 4 will be on PC and support Xbox Play Anywhere.

According to Fergusson, progress and achievement will be shared across platforms. Additionally, multiplayer and co-op modes will support crossplay between Xbox One and Windows 10. Fergusson also announced Horde mode will be making a return.

Gears of War 4 launches on October 11 for Xbox One.

Fergusson recently indicated a PC version of the game was possible. Following this, it was claimed that Microsoft's "Project Helix" was an effort to further converge Xbox and Windows, with major franchises releasing across both platforms.

Following Gears of War 4, Playground Games' creative director Ralph Fulton appeared on stage to talk about Forza Horizon 3, which is coming to Xbox One and PC on September 27 and will also be included.

Later on in the presentation, Microsoft announced all of its first-party studios titles will also be part of the program, including Platinum Games' Scalebound and Rare's Sea of Thieves.

Confirmed Xbox Play Anywhere Games

Gears of War 4
Sea of Thieves
Forza Horizon 3
Scalebound
State of Decay 2
Halo Wars 2

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Not supporting UWP...end of story.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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Edited By Spartan363

This is pretty cool and I love the idea of playing my XBOX games on my PC so that saves me money from not having to purchase an XBOX in the future when both will be running WIndows 10 and such.... As far as the XBOX purpose for now on will serve as a pre built Steam Machine type of PC for those that just want to plug and play and not bother building a PC because they don't have the technical knowledge to do so. The XBOX Scorpio will finally bring 1080p 60hz Ultra gaming to the console folks and should support 4k high settings at 30 hz or 4k 60hz medium settings equivalent.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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What's the point of playing it on PC? If it's part of UWP, then there will not be any mod support.

3 • 8 years ago

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@lion2447: 4k 60hz for those that have it, much faster load times with a proper PC and just overall a better experience, the XBOX Live app is pretty much the same thing on the PC as it's on the XBOX as far as features, messages and such go.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@Spartan363: I guess I wasn't clear in my comment. I play most of my games on PC, mainly thru Steam. I was referring more to how Microsoft is creating a walled garden approach to how PC games work. They are taking away too much control of the PC game environment and making it harder (sometimes impossible) to mod the games run under UWP. I like having improved graphics for games, but I like trying the many mods out there more. Sometimes mods can make and ok game so much better and improve its replay value. Microsoft wants to limit that, mostly under the frame of DRM. That's what I meant in my comment above, just in fewer words(lol).

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@lion2447: Much better graphics, more personaliztaion, etc.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@Balintferrari: I guess I wasn't clear in my comment. I play most of my games on PC, mainly thru Steam. I was referring more to how Microsoft is creating a walled garden approach to how PC games work. They are taking away too much control of the PC game environment and making it harder (sometimes impossible) to mod the games run under UWP. I like having improved graphics for games, but I like trying the many mods out there more. Sometimes mods can make and ok game so much better and improve its replay value. Microsoft wants to limit that, mostly under the frame of DRM. That's what I meant in my comment above, just in fewer words(lol).

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@lion2447: I see what you mean, but lets be honest: most games aren't modded, a few have dedicated modding communities, and those are amazing, but many games aren't modded because it doesnt make sense. Yeah, it would be nice, but ultimately its up to the devs now too if they allow it. Only a few games receive modding kits and even fewer are modded without one, because it is exremely difficult to do. One thing I can see them trying though is doing paid mods like steam tried to. It's up to the devs and microsoft to decide. One things for sure: It's better than not having those games on PC, so that we have the choice to play it at better settings than xone.

Upvote • 8 years ago

incrediblmullet

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incrediblmullet

This is just another step towards my prediction. I predicted when the Xbox 1 and PS4 where announced that it wouldn't be long until those two consoles just became Operating Systems you install on a PC. I also predicted that Microsoft would be the first to do so. This is a move I am all for. Would love to partition or have separate HDD's for them then just boot my PC for whichever I want to play haha.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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So what I want to know is whether or not you need an Xbox One to buy and play the supported games or not. That's the biggest question I have.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@gamerboy100: Well, for now a lot of those games are only purchasable on XBone and not in the Windows store.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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my xbox one is a brick now.. totally pointless when you have a superior pc... good job microsuck thanks for the exclusives! sigh

3 • 8 years ago

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@masscrack: dude what are you on about lol. The games are going to be very limited if they run on PC. Read up on it. I don't even think mouse macros work. Which makes my razer nostromo useless.

Upvote • 8 years ago

deactivated-5afeea4d8be41

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deactivated-5afeea4d8be41

@masscrack: Right if you have a good PC, why don't you sell your xbox one. Then you can game solely on your PC. Microsoft are damned if they do damned if they don't on this.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@graffitiheart: What I find interesting, is how Microsoft keeps trying to spin these moves as a good thing. I mean, if they wanted to go this route, why not just make a series of great PC's, that are finely tuned and threaded to work with Windows 10, and just bring the XBL experience there? At least with the PS4, I can actually get something I CAN'T experience on my PC.

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deactivated-5afeea4d8be41

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deactivated-5afeea4d8be41

@Khasym: They have built their own PC's they have the surface pro's and surface book laptops that are the best windows 10 devices on the market. They got their premium laptops, they have their gaming devices. I struggle to understand why people think it's a bad thing, if you prefer to play on PC you no longer have to purchase a £300 console, if you prefer to play on console you don't need a PC. They're basically saving people money whilst keeping them in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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Or just play on PC. Unless it's Windows 10 only and completely broken, then don't bother playing at all.

5 • 8 years ago

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Well, this would've been more interesting for me if I hadn't not too long ago inherited my brother's Xbox One...

Upvote • 8 years ago

Pr0ving4Gr0undz

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Pr0ving4Gr0undz

Sony might as well do the same thing.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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Uhh, thats pretty cool.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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So what's the incentive for owning an Xbox? Does the Xbox version come out first and then a month later you can play it on the PC?

2 • 8 years ago

deactivated-64efdf49333c4

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@bizuit: Well, they do gimp the PC versions. At least the PC versions of Xbox games have run pretty poorly so far.

2 • 8 years ago

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Guessing Halo Wars 2 will also support this.

Would be nice if it could be retroactively applied to existing games. I don't have Gears of War Ultimate Edition, but I probably would buy it if it became cross-buy.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@Spartan_418: Did you read the article? Halo Wars 2 is listed.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@gamerboy100: The article was updated with the list after I commented.

Upvote • 8 years ago

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@Spartan_418: Oh. Sorry about that. I didn't know it was edited.

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This is too freaking good to be true. OMG this makes me so happy.

Upvote • 8 years ago

untouchables111

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untouchables111

this makes a ton os sense. games are developed on a PC and making the same title available under a single purchase is a great thing for the player.

Upvote • 8 years ago

deactivated-5ebc942967df5

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deactivated-5ebc942967df5

It's official. The Xbox One will get no more exclusives, lol. Bravo MS.

9 • 8 years ago

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@Prats1993: This doesn't apply to all games... devs can choose whether or not to incorporate it...

3 • 8 years ago

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Edited By DRowePrice

@Prats1993: if microsoft CREATES the game for xbox and windows 10 which is both of their platforms how is it not exclusive?

3 • 8 years ago

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@droweprice: Once a game hits PC, it's not long before someone figures out a way to remove all the restrictions in place.

2 • 8 years ago

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@Barighm: So you're saying no developer should ever try selling a PC game because of pirates? Brilliant.

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@Prats1993: Either way Microsoft still gets your money. So who cares

2 • 8 years ago

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@Prats1993: Cry some more. This is a great move and a win for our PC brothers. Only downside is you have to buy it in the Windows Store.

6 • 8 years ago

deactivated-5ebc942967df5

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@fig56: I'll take that over 30fps 720p gameplay any day, lol.

2 • 8 years ago

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Edited By game4metoo

@Prats1993: but that's what you play on windows store. Matter of fact, it's broke

3 • 8 years ago

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Gears of war 4 coming to PC :)

3 • 8 years ago

Use your keyboard!

ESC

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