Xbox Game Pass -- Microsoft's subscription-based service with a playable library of over 100 games and growing -- will now include a number of in-house exclusives releasing through the service alongside their premium retail release.

What this means is, instead of forking out the premium price for, say, Sea of Thieves, you'll be able to play the full game as part of your Xbox Game Pass subscription alongside other games such as State of Decay 2, Crackdown 3 and more. Microsoft has also pledged to drop new iterations of major franchises like Halo and Gears of War into Xbox Game Pass on the same day as their full launch.

Here's what Phil Spencer has to say about the initiative:

Our fans have also asked for more choice in the subscription offerings available for Xbox Game Pass. As part of today’s library expansion, we are also pleased to announce that we are working closely with our retail partners, such as GameStop, to offer a 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card for those fans who look for a variety of ways to purchase and enjoy new games and services. The 6-month Xbox Game Pass subscription card will be available at select retail partners for $59.99 beginning March 20. By working closely with retail partners, Xbox Game Pass will have valuable ambassadors in popular destinations for gamers to discover new and exciting games and enjoy community.

With the addition of more great games, new blockbuster releases and a new subscription offer, we are giving fans more choice and value in how they discover and enjoy games – purchase games for their permanent library or play through Xbox Game Pass for one low price.

We’ve only scratched the surface of the opportunity this new model brings to the industry and what we can deliver to our fans. We firmly believe Xbox Game Pass will be a catalyst to create new opportunities for game developers and publishers to innovate in the way games are developed and delivered, leading to entirely new ways to play.

Xbox Game Pass is only USD$9.95 per month and works across the entire Xbox family of platforms.