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Ever since its introduction in 2017, Xbox Game Pass has been one of the best deals gaming has to offer. It has further evolved since then, with Ultimate Game Pass and PC Game Pass, allowing the service to reach a wider audience. And if Valve President Gabe Newell’s comments are anything to go by, we might even see Game Pass eventually on Steam.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Newell was asked about Valve’s intentions of creating its own game pass. He made it clear that isn’t something he believes Valve needs to do itself. Instead, Newell raised an interesting alternative option that will surely pique the interest of PC gamers.
Newell claims that his company would be “more than happy,” to work with Microsoft in order to get Game Pass on Steam. Given how great a deal Microsoft’s subscription service is, and the sheer quantity of games available on Steam, the thought of them working together is exciting.
What Game Pass would look like on Valve’s digital distribution service is hard to say, but a reasonable guess can be made. It would most likely mean that any games available on PC Game Pass would be playable through Steam. Given that Steam is by far the most popular storefront PC gamers use, this would be convenient.
The implications of what this could mean for the Steam Deck are interesting to think about.
What’s in it for Valve?
Allowing a competitor to release its signature service on your own platform may not sound wise, but this partnership would actually benefit Valve. For one, many of these games would be playable on the Steam Deck, and Microsoft itself does not offer an equivalent. We can also assume that Valve would take a percentage cut of any Game Pass revenue generated through games on Steam.
Furthermore, it would increase Steam’s outreach. Even if it is still the dominant storefront for PC gaming, competitors such as Epic Games have closed the distance over the last few years. Having a unique selling point like Game Pass integration could be an effective way of adding even more value.
