You might have missed it back in December — Microsoft announced as part of The Game Awards 2021 that it was rebranding Xbox Game Pass for PC, changing the name to just "PC Game Pass" from now on.
In a recent interview with ROG Global (as highlighted by GameSpot), Xbox Game Pass Group Program Manager Jason Beaumont explained that the old name was causing confusion for some, and it made sense to change it:
"It's the same catalog of games. It's always a sign when everybody internally calls something one name, but then externally, you're calling it a different name [laughs]. So internally, we were always like, 'PC Game Pass,' then finally someone was like, 'Why don't we just call it that?'."
"We were hearing a lot from gamers that they were like, 'Listen, people don't understand that Game Pass has PC games'... "We had this user confusion so it was like, just change the name. Make it straightforward. So PC Game Pass it is."
Of course, PC Game Pass still functions the same way as it did before, so this is just a simple name change.
In fact, the PC version of the service has some amazing games on the way in January 2022 alone, including Mass Effect Legendary Edition (available today), Rainbow Six Extraction and Siege on January 20th, and a whole lot more.
Do you prefer the new name or the old one? Any suggestions to make it better? Let us know below.
[source youtube.com, via gamespot.com]
Comments 18
Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, makes sense. I like the change.
Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC.
Something went terribly wrong.
@Sinton I am a fan of Microsoft, but dang do they make things confusing with their naming of things. Your examples are spot on.
I agree with the comments above but it's getting better. Consoles are just "Xbox" and "Series X" and "Series S" are the models. Xbox Live etc. is Xbox Network.
That video was great by the way.
@P3nguinprisM They're not alone
And that's before we get to the real stinkers like the DigiScent iSmell or the Burning Love Pouch lol
Says the company that named their current consoles, Series S and Series X.
I'm entering my 30s so my parents friends are even older, this holidays I've been asked around a dozen times, what are the differences between Xbox One S, One X, Series S, and Series X.
@Sinton lmao! I came to say the same…. Xbox one X and Xbox series X…. Clear… a different a clear naming policy has always been the key to the Xbox name strategy
@themightyant come on, it's not as bad as Microsoft's names. XM4 is arguably better than XM3 (I'm still salty about the loss of aptX) because it's a higher number. People just call the Sony's XM most of the time. I don't know about the VR headsets, but obviously PSVR2 > PSVR.
@OskarRex I agree on the numbering. PS1 -> PS5 is logical as is PSVR -> PSVR2.
It's all the other gunk attached on other devices. For the headphones what about the WF1000-XM3's VERY different product to WH1000-XM3 and confusing AF.
But I agree Xbox's is one of the worst... Xbox One sweats profusely, unlike Prince Andrew... allegedly.
@themightyant Oh yeah I agree too, that CAN get confusing, but at least the products are different enough to see what are you getting, cans vs earpods. But hey, at least is not as worse as Wii U lol, I wonder if Nintendo is going to capitalize on the Switch's success and make a successor to it with a clearer name.
I agree. Unless person is a gamer definitely can see where confusion would be.
@OskarRex Whatever Nintendo calls their next console you can be sure that they will design a version that doesn't do what it says on the tin within a few years. 3DS -> 2DS, Switch -> (I don't) Switch Lite etc. Anti-Ronseal.
@themightyant to be fair, the 2DS does exactly what it says on the tin. It plays all the 3DS games but only in 2D (although I get your point it is taking away a feature).
You’re right that the Switch Lite does not in fact switch.
Yup a good change. Hated that "Xbox for PC" branding.
Cool. So...... About "Xbox Cloud Gaming With Xbox Game Pass"......
@themightyant don't forget Dual Shock (DS), DS2, SixAxis, DS3, DS4, Dual Sense (DS).
And PSP to PS Vita. And PS VitaTV. That couldn't play PS Vita games.
But ms still takes the crown with Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox 1, X1S, X1X, XSX, XSS.
I'm just going to wait to pre-order the Xbox Sense VitaU X DS
Makes sense. They've been trying to push the whole "Xbox is more than just the console it's a wider brand and platform", but it's never stuck. Like how you buy PC games from the "Xbox" app on PC.
I bought a game on "Xbox" and tried to play with friends who had it on Steam, but we couldn't play together and even trying to explain that I had the "Xbox, but not the console" version of the game and googling for a solution was difficult.
Don't forget Nintendo's names like Wii U which was presented by Iwata as what seemed a Wii accessory. He showed the Gamepad and said "This is Wii U". Also, NSMBUDX (New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe), it sounds like washing machine detergent 😂. Or like NEStalgia said, the PS Vita TV that didn't play PS Vita games.
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