Microsoft is launching PC Game Pass today in 40 new countries, including several European markets. After previewing the service in these countries over the past two months, PC Game Pass is now officially available in countries across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, including Croatia, Iceland, Libya, Qatar, and Ukraine.
This expansion means that 86 countries will now have access to Game Pass as Microsoft seeks to expand its subscription service beyond console. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer warned of slowing growth on the console side of Xbox Game Pass last year,) but noted that the company is “seeing incredible growth on PC.” Microsoft said in October that PC Game Pass subscriptions increased 159% year over year.
PC Game Pass includes access to Xbox games on Microsoft PC, hundreds of PC games, Bethesda titles, and even an EA Play membership where you can try new releases for up to 10 hours.
Anyone who helps Microsoft test PC Game Pass in these new markets will receive a free two-month membership as a tribute to your participation in the Preview Program. “This will be available directly in member accounts in the coming days,” says Gerrit West, CVP of Xbox Game Marketing. Microsoft also has a “special welcome offer” for the first three months of PC Game Pass in these new markets, and pricing will vary from country to country.
The PC Game Pass expansion comes just hours after Microsoft announced a new cloud gaming partnership with UK mobile operator EE. The deal includes Xbox PC games coming to EE customers and may hint that Microsoft is preparing to bring full PC games to its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
Here is the complete list of the 40 new countries where PC Game Pass is now available: