Microsoft to bring ‘at least one’ first-party game to Game Pass every quarter

Microsoft announced a deluge of Xbox, xCloud, and Xbox Game Pass news Thursday, including that it’s working on new stand-alone game streaming devices and bringing Game Pass to TVs. The Xbox maker also reaffirmed its first-party commitment to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, pledging to bring “at least one new, first party game into Game Pass every quarter.”

The company says its ever-expanding stable of Xbox Game Studios (and the recent addition of Bethesda Softworks to Microsoft) will make that release cadence possible.

“With more than 23 studios worldwide creating games for Xbox, our goal is to release at least one new, first party game into Game Pass every quarter,” Microsoft said in a post on Xbox Wire. “Role playing games, shooters, strategy titles, adventure games, and more are all being built by our first party teams to ensure that there is a steady stream of compelling exclusive content to explore.”

Microsoft didn’t specify when its plan would go into effect, but the company should easily meet its goal in 2021 with two first-party releases later this year: Halo Infinite and Psychonauts 2.

We’ll assuredly know more how the rest of the year (and next) looks for Xbox Game Studios at E3 2021. Microsoft will hold its Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase on June 13, where we’re likely to get updates on previously announced first-party Xbox games like Everwild from Rare, Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment, Perfect Dark from The Initiative, Fable from Playground Games, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 from Ninja Theory, and a new Forza Motorsport from Turn 10 Studios. Bethesda Softworks is also working on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6.