Microsoft Announce Xbox Play Anywhere Roster for 2016 and 2017

It’s no secret that Windows and the Xbox are becoming more similar than ever, despite obvious hardware differences. At E3 this year, Microsoft announced Xbox Play Anywhere, an initiative to synchronize your Xbox account between the two more than ever before.

There is an obvious callback to Sony’s Cross Play feature here, which let people buy a game once on their PS4 or Vita consoles and play it on either at any time, with Microsoft’s take on the feature instead marrying the libraries of their millions selling console and gaming PCs. When you purchase an Xbox Play Anywhere title, you need only buy the game once and then you can play it on both your Xbox One console or Windows 10 PC and while this is something Microsoft played up at E3, it will live or die by the choice of games that support it. Additionally, the service only supports games bought digitally, so those who still like to own box copies of their games won’t be able to make use of the feature.

Now the full list has come to light and predictably every entry on the list is a Microsoft game, but they’re all set to be solid games. Some of the games are already out, like Killer Instinct Season 3, with 5 more games set to land this year including ReCore and Forza Horizon 3. Later on, 2017 will see Scalebound, Crackdown 3 and more being available, with the full list available below:

• Killer Instinct Season 3 – Out now
• Ark: Survival Evolved – Out now, Xbox Game Preview
• We Happy Few – July 26, 2016, Xbox Game Preview
• ReCore – September 16, 2016
• Forza Horizon 3 – September 27, 2016
• Gears of War 4 – October 11, 2016
• Cuphead – TBA, 2016
• Halo Wars 2 – February 21, 2017
• Sea of Thieves – TBA, 2017
• Scalebound – TBA, 2017
• State of Decay 2 – TBA, 2017
• Crackdown 3 – TBA, 2017

Hopefully, the allure of not just having to buy the game once, but also transfer DLC content, saves and achievements across the platforms will be able to get gamers to make the most of the functionality. Some games will even support multiplayer cross-platform play although some would say that one side may have the advantage in that contest. Will it get die-hard PC gamers to pick up an Xbox One? Maybe not, but it’s definitely a great deal for those on the fence or with a foot in both camps.