Microsoft is marking a huge landmark for one of their gaming services as a major AAA is set to join that service.
The official Xbox Twitter account made this announcement:
“There are now 1,000+ games that support Xbox Play Anywhere! Which means there are now 1,000+ games where you can take your progress with you across any PC, Xbox console, and supported gaming handhelds.”
As explained by Jez Corden on Windows Central, Xbox Play Anywhere was launched in 2016. When you buy an Xbox Play Anywhere game, it gives you a copy of the game under your Xbox account, and another copy that you can play using the Xbox PC app. You can buy that game on either the Xbox Store or Windows Store to receive both copies. And all these games are cross-save and cross progression.
This setup also ties into Game Pass. Not all games on Game Pass are on the Xbox Play Anywhere program. However, if you have a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you get access to all the first party Xbox Play Anywhere games. Most third-party games on Game Pass are also usually enrolled into Xbox Play Anywhere.
Microsoft has also been pushing to add Xbox Play Anywhere games into Xbox Cloud Steaming, once again only available under Game Pass Ultimate. While this may seem to be complicated on the surface, most of the AAAs you’ll want to play will already be on all these programs, under Game Pass’ highest tier.
Of course, we can expect all of Microsoft’s first party output to be in Xbox Play Anywhere, and they happen to be having a banner year in 2025. Avowed’s Play Anywhere setup includes a third copy of the game on Battle.net if you buy on the Xbox PC app or Xbox store itself. We can also expect Play Anywhere for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, but an upcoming third-party AAA is also scheduled to join the program.
The Xbox store listing for Silent Hill f, which Konami just revealed yesterday, indicates that it will also be Xbox Play Anywhere. This is a major get for Microsoft, but really, they should be working to get as many major AAAs on the program as they can. Microsoft pulled a coup like this with Metaphor: ReFantazio, and it might be just the thing to raise revenue for Final Fantasy XVI when it eventually makes its way to Xbox.
With that announcement from what could be Konami’s biggest game this year, don’t be surprised if more third-party AAAs slated for 2025 also turn out to be joining Xbox Play Anywhere.
