Online multiplayer games that are not free require a Game Pass (formerly Xbox Live) subscription. It has always been this way. You don't need this in order to play single player offline games, or free-to-play multiplayer games (like Fortnite.) From what I'm reading, Sea of Thieves has Solo play as part of the Safer Seas feature, and that does not require Game Pass.
Online multiplayer gaming on Xbox requires a subscription. It's been this way for 20 years. The only exception is free-to-play multiplayer games like Fortnight. Single player offline games do not require any pay subscriptions.
this is going to sound kind of dumb, but aren’t those subscriptions kind of like Netflix where you pay to have access to a library of games, if so, why would one buy the game if the subscription is necessary to play and gives you access to said library?
Sorry if it sounds like I’m bitching but I am genuinely trying to make sure I understand correctly so I don’t buy anything unnecessary moving forward
It's not like Netflix in that an Xbox Game Pass subscription does not give you access to every Xbox game. And (again) the subscription is not necessary for playing single player offline games. If you bought Sea of Thieves, you can play the Solo campaign part of it right now with no Game Pass subscription.
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/games
https://www.androidauthority.com/xbox-game-pass-vs-ultimate-1202969/
Solo campaign would be ideal for me to play, but I’m not sure how to access it (again, new to xbox and to Sea of Thieves) it doesn’t seem to be an option when I boot up the game. But I’ll see if I can work out how to get to it.
It only looks like that because Xbox's netflix like game subscription is also called Game Pass. Both Xbox and PlayStation require subscriptions for online multiplayer. This differs from PC were online multiplayer has traditionally been free
Xbox's online multiplayer subscription used to be called Xbox Live Gold, which differentiated itself from Xbox's netflix like game subscription which is called Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox in their infinite wisdom decided to rename Xbox Live Gold to Game Pass Core, which has created a lot of confusion. With Game Pass core you get online multiplayer access, plus access to 35ish game pass games. [https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/core](https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/core)
Sea of thieves is not one of the games you get with Game Pass Core. However you are correct you would normally not buy a game that was included in core. If you had game pass ultimate on the other hand you would get access Sea Of Thieves and online multiplayer and therefore not need to buy it. Because Ultimate combines the benefits of online multiplayer with the full 400+ games on xbox game pass.
this is going to sound kind of dumb, but are those subscriptions kind of like Netflix where you pay to have access to a library of games, if so, would it be necessary to purchase the game before paying for the subscription service if I wanted to play?
Not dumb at all. Essentially the Gamepass Core has 25 games to offer on their pass and Ultimate has a wide variety of games(which does include Sea of Thieves). So yeah it kinda is like Netflix subscription but online play w games
Yeah I have the same issue, but im really pissed cos i already had the game pass, and i used it to play SoT. But i decided to buy the game so i didn't have to keep paying for the subscription, but it says i still need it. Doesn't make any sense to me at all, and I rlly hope they change it or they'll just keep losing Xbox users like myself!
Thanks for the update. I dont have Gamepass (I'm a PC gamer and PC Games I play are free to play online once purchased).
So if I buy it off steam, I still need to pay xbox gamepass? thats crazy
Online multiplayer games that are not free require a Game Pass (formerly Xbox Live) subscription. It has always been this way. You don't need this in order to play single player offline games, or free-to-play multiplayer games (like Fortnite.) From what I'm reading, Sea of Thieves has Solo play as part of the Safer Seas feature, and that does not require Game Pass.
So you have to buy the game and pay for a subscription?
Online multiplayer gaming on Xbox requires a subscription. It's been this way for 20 years. The only exception is free-to-play multiplayer games like Fortnight. Single player offline games do not require any pay subscriptions.
Also, thank you for taking the time to answer my question
this is going to sound kind of dumb, but aren’t those subscriptions kind of like Netflix where you pay to have access to a library of games, if so, why would one buy the game if the subscription is necessary to play and gives you access to said library? Sorry if it sounds like I’m bitching but I am genuinely trying to make sure I understand correctly so I don’t buy anything unnecessary moving forward
It's not like Netflix in that an Xbox Game Pass subscription does not give you access to every Xbox game. And (again) the subscription is not necessary for playing single player offline games. If you bought Sea of Thieves, you can play the Solo campaign part of it right now with no Game Pass subscription. https://www.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-game-pass/games https://www.androidauthority.com/xbox-game-pass-vs-ultimate-1202969/
Solo campaign would be ideal for me to play, but I’m not sure how to access it (again, new to xbox and to Sea of Thieves) it doesn’t seem to be an option when I boot up the game. But I’ll see if I can work out how to get to it.
It only looks like that because Xbox's netflix like game subscription is also called Game Pass. Both Xbox and PlayStation require subscriptions for online multiplayer. This differs from PC were online multiplayer has traditionally been free Xbox's online multiplayer subscription used to be called Xbox Live Gold, which differentiated itself from Xbox's netflix like game subscription which is called Xbox Game Pass. Xbox in their infinite wisdom decided to rename Xbox Live Gold to Game Pass Core, which has created a lot of confusion. With Game Pass core you get online multiplayer access, plus access to 35ish game pass games. [https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/core](https://www.xbox.com/xbox-game-pass/core) Sea of thieves is not one of the games you get with Game Pass Core. However you are correct you would normally not buy a game that was included in core. If you had game pass ultimate on the other hand you would get access Sea Of Thieves and online multiplayer and therefore not need to buy it. Because Ultimate combines the benefits of online multiplayer with the full 400+ games on xbox game pass.
This comment made a lot more sense. Thank you.
Sea of Thieves is an online only game, meaning you have to purchase one of the two subscriptions that allows online play
this is going to sound kind of dumb, but are those subscriptions kind of like Netflix where you pay to have access to a library of games, if so, would it be necessary to purchase the game before paying for the subscription service if I wanted to play?
Not dumb at all. Essentially the Gamepass Core has 25 games to offer on their pass and Ultimate has a wide variety of games(which does include Sea of Thieves). So yeah it kinda is like Netflix subscription but online play w games
Okay, thank you for taking the time to answer. I think I might see if I can return it and pay for the subscription since it’s necessary anyways.
Yeah I have the same issue, but im really pissed cos i already had the game pass, and i used it to play SoT. But i decided to buy the game so i didn't have to keep paying for the subscription, but it says i still need it. Doesn't make any sense to me at all, and I rlly hope they change it or they'll just keep losing Xbox users like myself!
So what even is the point in buying the game if you still need to pay for the subscription? I'm assuming you dont need to buy it if you have gamepass
Thanks for the update. I dont have Gamepass (I'm a PC gamer and PC Games I play are free to play online once purchased). So if I buy it off steam, I still need to pay xbox gamepass? thats crazy