This follows the same business model that Spotify uses, which is to charge users on ‘mobile’ platforms while offering its free, ad-supported music streaming service to desktop users. Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 8 users will have to purchase the Xbox Music Pass in order to look up and stream specific songs.

Those who purchase an Xbox Music Pass will have access to unlimited streaming and the ability to download songs locally for offline playback.Īdditionally, Windows 8 users will get a song specific search and unlimited free streaming. When Windows 8 officially launches on October 26th, the service will feature unlimited streaming for the first six months and will then incorporate ads and a 10 hour/month listening limit in the free service.

Unfortunately, Windows 8 users can only look up artists, preview tracks, and purchase songs at the moment. The app itself is simply called ‘ Music‘ but opens to show the new Xbox Music service.

Let’s take a look at this new music service from Microsoft.Ĭurrent Windows 8 users already have Xbox Music installed. Spotify charges the same money and offers similar features like ‘pinning’ songs to be played offline and syncing with mobile devices. The Xbox Music Pass is $9.99/month or $99.90/year. While the Xbox Music library is impressive, featuring over 30 million songs in its global database, it is up against stiff competition from the likes of Spotify, Rdio, and Pandora. Xbox users with an Xbox Live Gold membership will be the first people to have access to its free music streaming service. It will slowly replace the existing Zune Music Pass. Microsoft has rolled out its new Xbox Music service today on the Xbox 360 and on PCs running Windows 8.

Windows 8 xbox game pass