Microsoft details rollout plan for Xbox Play Anywhere launch

By Mike Epstein July 1, 2016

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Microsoft laid out a detailed plan for introducing Xbox Play Anywhere, its new cross-play initiative for the Xbox One and Windows 10. This included a list of upcoming games that will support it, and what users will need to take advantage of it.

Announced at Microsoft’s E3 2016 keynote, Xbox Play Anywhere gives players digital access to participating games on both Xbox One and Windows 10, offers cloud saving so you can switch between the two platforms and, in some cases, supports cross-platform multiplayer. Microsoft will also track achievements and DLC purchases across both platforms.

According to a report from Polygon, Xbox Play Anywhere will only support games purchased digitally. Players who buy disc-based games for Xbox One (or Windows 10) will not have access to multi-platform support.

Microsoft announced Wednesday that the Xbox One summer software update and the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, which launches August 2, will integrate Xbox Play Anywhere support to the platforms. The first game to support the service will be Comcept and Armature Studio’s action-adventure game ReCore, which launches September 13.

Microsoft also confirmed the full list of announced games that will support Xbox Play Anywhere upon release:

Gears of War 4
Forza Horizon 3
ReCore
Sea of Thieves
Halo Wars 2
Scalebound
Killer Instinct Season 3
State of Decay 2
Ark: Survival Evolved
Cuphead
We Happy Few
Crackdown 3

As you might have expected, the majority of the games are either Xbox exclusives or games that received co-marketing support from Microsoft. There’s at least one notable exception on the list: Capcom’s Dead Rising 4, a timed exclusive on track to launch on Xbox One and Windows 10 in December. That doesn’t necessarily mean the game won’t receive cross-platform support of some kind. The standalone version of The Witcher 3 card game, Gwent, will support Xbox One and Windows 10 cross-play when it enters beta in September, but is not listed as an official Xbox Play Anywhere title.

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Michael is a New York-based tech and culture reporter, and a graduate of Northwestwern University’s Medill School of…

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