If you're an Xbox fan, you may remember that EA Play is coming to Xbox Game Pass. When we first reported this news, we didn't have a solid release date. However, Microsoft has confirmed that you will be able to play EA games through Xbox Game Pass on November 10.

What Happens to the Xbox Game Pass on November 10?

Microsoft made the announcement on Xbox Wire, with more information on how the partnership will work:

Today I’m announcing that starting November 10, EA Play will be available on Xbox consoles, including Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and beginning in December, members with an Ultimate or PC subscription will be able to download and play games from the EA Play library on Windows 10 PCs.

This library update will add over 60 new games to the Game Pass, including EA's hit series such as Battlefield, FIFA, and Mass Effect.

What This Partnership Means for Microsoft

As the console wars between the Xbox Series X and the PS5 brews in the distance, Microsoft is banking on one strategy: pure value for money. To do this, the company wants to populate its Xbox Game Pass library with as many games as possible.

While Microsoft can achieve this by creating new studios, it's a very expensive and time-consuming process with no guarantee of success. That's why the company is instead turning its attention to successful companies that are already set up.

To get a company on board, Microsoft takes one of two approaches. The first is what we're seeing with the above blog post, with Microsoft striking a deal with another studio to allow a library of games onto the Xbox Game Pass.

The other strategy involves Microsoft purchasing a studio. This tends to be very expensive, but Microsoft can ensure that the studio's past, present, and future library will all appear on the Game Pass. We saw this tactic in action when Microsoft bought Bethesda for $7.5 billion.

Regardless of the route that Microsoft takes, it ends in the same result: more value for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. This, in turn, gives more of an incentive to pick up a new Xbox console and a Game Pass to go with it.

Another Studio's Library on the Xbox Game Pass

As the holiday 2020 season approaches and the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 prepare for release, Microsoft is showing its hand by creating an Xbox Game Pass that's true value for money. We'll have to wait and see if Microsoft's offerings are enough for them to compete with, or even overtake, the PlayStation.

That's not to say that the Game Pass isn't great value for money right now. In fact, there are plenty of great games to play on the Xbox Game Pass that you don't need to wait until November for.

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