Topic: Xbox and Xbox Game Pass applications

I have a new phone and while setting it up, I was wondering what's the difference between Xbox and Xbox Game Pass apps (on Google Play)? Maybe this will be useful for other users, too.

Xbox let's you remote use your console (like downloading games for instance), check your friends and achievements, etc.

Game pass has the list of all games available on PC, cloud and console and let's you play the cloud ones

I use both apps.

Game Pass - Cloud gaming and Game Pass Quests. Can also remotely install Game Pass games onto console from here.

Xbox - has the screenshot library uploaded from console so can save to device from here. Also the Xbox app specific Rewards (which you might not have, took them ages to enrol me in this). Achievement lists, Remote to console etc

Thanks for the input. On my old phone I only have Xbox Game Pass, I'll download both then.

Xbox App is your 'virtual' Xbox and access to manage your account, manage your library, screenshots/captures, buy and download games, see what friends are on, create/join party chats etc - its like the Xbox dashboard...

Game Pass is literally for Game Pass subscribers to access everything 'Game Pass' on their device. You can check what games are available on all 3 Game Pass 'platforms' - Cloud, Console and PC. On your Mobile, Cloud of course is the games you can play on mobiles - but you can manage your Game Pass account, play games, get perks, check quests etc. You need to be a Game Pass Cloud (or Ultimate as that includes Game Pass for all 3 platforms) to play games via the Cloud but if you just have the 'basic' Game Pass for Console or PC, its still a 'useful' app.

If you have an Xbox, then the Xbox app is for you. If you Subscribe to Game Pass, then the Game Pass app is 'useful' too - even if you don't (or plan to) use Cloud gaming on that device. You can use it to 'pre-install' games to your console for example as well.

You got my hopes up there, but nope, I still can't buy games from the app

@dmcc0 I thought you could buy, maybe I was wrong on that aspect as I don't really buy games digitally and if I do, I tend to do it through the console or Laptop and as I can buy on the Xbox PC app, I assumed you could with the Mobile app too...

@BAMozzy You can search for games and there is an option to download to console, but you can't actually buy from the app. Presumably when you launch the downloaded game on the console it'll take you to the store to pay. I've only had an Xbox since Series console launched, but from what I've read, previous versions of the app did let you buy direct from the app.

@dmcc0 Maybe they will update the app in the future. I don't really use it myself, other than to reply to messages and stuff like that so I just assumed it was like the Xbox Dashboard as it 'looked' like it should link to the Store.

I guess it does stop erroneous purchases as I'm sure people 'bought' games and then realised they couldn't play them on the device they had. You just know that someone would make that mistake of not thinking or reading the information provided and bought thinking they could play it on mobile. Especially with Game Pass offering games to play via Cloud but obviously, that's just the selection of games loaded onto the Cloud servers but you can see how some may confuse playing a select few 'Xbox' games via Cloud on your mobile via Game Pass could make some assume that Mobile purchases are playable on the Cloud too without checking!