Windows Central Insider
Microsoft's Xbox division is responsible for a variety of gaming innovations we now take for granted. Direct-to-digital, at home cloud-based gaming multiplayer, achievements, among other things — but its subscription services are what gave Xbox it's biggest business wins.
We had Xbox Live in the past, but it has since evolved into Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-like all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service, officially launched in 2017. The service has long been called the "best deal in gaming," although price hikes and restructures have tarnished its image throughout 2025, as analysts wonder if the deal was actually simply too good to be true.
Essential Xbox Game Pass reading
Latest about Xbox Game Pass
Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 gets its first Festival Playlist next week with 10 new cars
Forza Forza Horizon 6 will soon get its first Festival Playlist, and while it's live, players will be able to earn 10 new cars in the hit Xbox racer.
Xbox Game Pass' Subnautica 2 blew up the Steam charts in minutes at its Early Access launch
Gaming Subnautica 2 has finally arrived on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass, and has already become a colossal hit on Steam alone. It's enjoying a huge launch right now.
Here are Xbox's official Forza Horizon 6 release dates and launch times
Forza Forza Horizon 6 is releasing in under a week, and ahead of its arrival, Xbox and Playground Games have announced its official release dates and launch times.
Xbox’s Project Saluki and Positron leaks point to major subscription changes
Xbox The newest Xbox Game Pass tiers appear to be specifically targeting the lucrative Chinese market, and is Microsoft also working on a disc-to-digital program?
Forza Horizon 6 was the best-selling game on Steam last week, well ahead of launch
Forza Xbox's Forza Horizon 6 is slated to be one of this year's biggest games, and ahead of its launch, it's become a top seller on the PC gaming store Steam.
Xbox Game Pass joins Discord Nitro
XBOX Xbox and Discord are teaming up in a bigger way, with Game Pass Starter edition now included as part of Discord Nitro subscriptions.
62% of Gen Z isn't buying full‑price games, shifting instead to Xbox Game Pass
Xbox A new gaming study suggests audiences are moving away from ownership, and Xbox Game Pass may finally benefit from that shift.
Xbox posts the Forza Horizon 6 launch trailer a week before its Early Access release date
Forza A week ahead of Forza Horizon 6's Early Access release date, Xbox has posted the game's official launch trailer — and it's got some neat references.
