Microsoft Unifies Xbox Game Pass Features with Main App, Drops Separate App

Microsoft is merging features from the Xbox Game Pass app into the main Xbox app on mobile platforms, starting this week. The updated app will be available on iOS, Android, and iPadOS, marking the end of the Xbox Game Pass app as a separate entity. From November, Microsoft will no longer support new downloads of the Xbox Game Pass app.

The combined Xbox app will offer a range of new features, including the ability to explore Microsoft’s game subscription service and manage your membership. “You’ll be able to browse the full Game Pass catalog to find your favorite games and stay in the loop with alerts for new games coming to the service,” the company said in an Xbox Wire post.

Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will also be able to view and claim their perks, as well as stream select games via Xbox Cloud Gaming on iOS or Android. The regular features of the Xbox app will remain the same for all users, including social features, game updates, party chat, achievement tracking, and remote game installation.

Meanwhile, on PC, Microsoft has rolled out an update to the Xbox app that improves game management. Users can now view and install related add-ons for a game while installing the title, rather than searching for them separately. Additionally, users can manage add-ons or additional content by right-clicking on an installed title and selecting “Manage.”

On Xbox consoles, players can now pre-download game updates and start playing as soon as the update is live. This feature is currently supported by select games and will be available for more titles later. Furthermore, Xbox users will now receive notifications when a wish-listed game is released, joins Game Pass, or becomes available as part of a Free Play Day promotion.

The merger of Xbox Game Pass features into the main app is expected to provide a more streamlined gaming experience for users, with all essential features in one place.