Microsoft Plans New Game Pass Tier Tailored for Chinese Market
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Microsoft is developing a new tier of its Game Pass subscription service specifically for Chinese gamers, referred to internally as 'Project Saluki'. The tier is designed to align with China's unique regulatory environment and local gaming preferences. This move coincides with a significant surge in Chinese gaming activity on platforms like Steam.
Facts First
- Microsoft is developing a new Game Pass tier for the Chinese market, known as 'Project Saluki'.
- The tier is tailored for China's regulatory environment and gamer preferences.
- Chinese gaming activity is surging, with simplified Chinese users on Steam increasing by 20.88%.
- Asha Sharma, the new Xbox CEO, is overseeing initiatives including leadership changes and a Discord partnership.
- The Xbox Series X/S had its worst sales year on record in the UK last year.
What Happened
Microsoft is developing a new tier of its Game Pass subscription service specifically for the Chinese market, according to reports. The project is internally referred to as 'Project Saluki'. The tier is intended to be tailored to China's unique regulatory environment and local gamer preferences. This development coincides with a notable increase in Chinese gaming activity; a March 2025 Steam user survey found users using simplified Chinese on the platform increased by 20.88 percent, reaching approximately half of all users.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a gamer in China, you may soon have access to a subscription service more closely aligned with local regulations and content preferences. This could affect the games available to you and how you access them. For gamers elsewhere, this move signals Microsoft's focus on expanding its services into a major, growing market, which could influence the company's future global offerings.
What's Next
The new tier, 'Project Saluki', is likely to be formally announced and rolled out in China. Its success could depend on how well it navigates local regulations and meets specific gamer demands. Microsoft's broader Xbox strategy, under new CEO Asha Sharma, appears to be shifting, with other initiatives like a revamped leadership team and a Discord partnership also underway.