Microsoft is preparing to expand its Xbox Game Pass subscription service to China, according to references found in the latest update to the Xbox PC app. The update mentions 'Project Saluki', described as a 'China market expansion for Game Pass, Rewards, and subscription tiers'.
Current Availability
While Microsoft already offers a range of games in China through Activision Blizzard, the Xbox Game Pass service is not yet available in the country. However, Microsoft has been selling Xbox consoles in China since the Xbox One launched in 2014, marking the first console to enter the market after a 14-year government ban on game consoles was lifted.
Regulatory Challenges
The Chinese Xbox store features a smaller game catalog due to regulatory approval requirements for each title. These constraints have historically hindered plans for Xbox Game Pass in China. However, Project Saluki might provide a curated selection of games tailored to the regulatory environment, potentially overcoming these challenges. Microsoft has not yet commented on Project Saluki, but updates are expected.
New Features and Speculation
The Xbox PC app also references another codename, 'Positron', which is said to 'enable Disc2Digital'. This could hint at Microsoft's revisiting of plans to convert physical disc games into digital licenses, a concept originally proposed with the Xbox One but abandoned due to pushback. Windows Central speculates that Positron may be linked to Project Helix, the rumored next-generation Xbox console. Microsoft has been moving towards digital-only consoles, having launched the all-digital Xbox Series S in 2020 and a discless Xbox Series X in 2024.
More developments are anticipated as Microsoft continues to explore its expansion strategies in China, potentially reshaping the gaming landscape in the region.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/929454/microsoft-xbox-game-pass-china-expansion-rumors
