Dear Reader:
Microsoft seems very interested in bringing Xbox Game Pass to Switch
First off, let's explain what Xbox Game Pass is. According to Microsoft, the service offers a deep library of more than 100 high-quality games, and for one flat fee, you can have access to all of them. New games are added all the time, so there's always something to play.
Ever since Microsoft and Nintendo have gotten all buddy-buddy with each other, fans have been wondering if the Xbox Game Pass service could make its way to Switch. Microsoft's Phil Spencer was asked about this by Giant Bomb, and he shared the following response.
I have said, over time, I'd like to take Game Pass everywhere... We're focused on the streaming side, at least, on Android, just because in some ways it's the hardest for us because it's so divserse in terms of the number of devices.
I love the role that Nintendo plays in the industry; I love the fact that Minecraft Dungeons was announced there and we have really good relationships with them; [there's] obviously Banjo in Smash. But that platform is different enough from an Xbox platform that it's not trivial for us just to say 'Ok, all those games would run there'. So then you're like, 'Ok, are we going to stream the games to there?' I love what Switch is, but the opportunity globally to focus on an Android platform is just such a natural first move for us. And frankly, [it] will take us quite a while to work through that, so that's the focus for us right now.
But I want to have the best console experience because of what it gives you; I want to be sitting on the couch with an amazing experience; it sounds great, I have access to any game that I want to play, and if I want to take that while I'm on the go, I think the Switch is a really cool platform for that; it's just that in the near-term, it's kind of hard for us to priortise different than we are today.
It's not a 100% yes, but it definitely seems like there's a lot of interest to make it happen. I guess we'll just have to hang tight and see what happens!