Got an Xbox and a gaming PC? You might be about to buy the same game twice. Xbox Play Anywhere fixes that, and it's on more big releases than you might think. Here's how it works, how to use it, and where it stops.
In Xbox's words: "Games that are XBOX Play Anywhere play on XBOX console, PC, and supported gaming handhelds at no additional cost." Buy once, play on all three.
What carries over
This is the good bit. Xbox says Play Anywhere brings "all your saves, game add-ons, and achievements with you." Specifically:
- Saves and progress move between devices.
- Add-ons you buy or earn, which Xbox lists as "game add-ons, Season Passes, consumables and in-game unlocks", work everywhere.
- Achievements are shared: "A single shared set of Gamerscore and Achievements will be earned and awarded."
A recent example: CD Projekt's post on Xbox Wire for Cyberpunk 2077's update 2.5 says the game now supports Play Anywhere, so one purchase covers Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC, "with progress carrying over" between them.
How to set it up
1. Check for the label before you buy. Play Anywhere games are marked on their store pages and in Xbox's announcements. *Expected result:* you know before paying whether you're getting both versions.
2. Buy digitally. This is the big one. Xbox is blunt: "XBOX Play Anywhere only applies to digital games." A disc copy won't unlock the PC version. *Expected result:* the licence attaches to your account, not to a disc.
3. Use the same Microsoft account everywhere. Sign in with the account you bought the game on, on both console and PC. *Expected result:* the game shows up as owned on both.
4. Get the Xbox app on your PC. Xbox says to "launch XBOX on your Windows PC and games will appear in My Library." Your PC needs the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition update or later, and your console needs its latest update. *Expected result:* the PC version is ready to download.
5. Let your saves sync. Play on one device, quit properly, then pick up on the other. *Expected result:* you continue where you left off.
The limits
A few catches worth knowing:
- One device at a time. Xbox says you can be signed in to a game on only one console, PC or handheld at once. You can't run the same game on two screens.
- Handhelds means Windows 11 handhelds. Xbox says Play Anywhere games are "supported on Windows 11 gaming handhelds", so other handhelds aren't part of it.
- Not every game supports it. Play Anywhere is per game. If the label isn't there, assume you're buying one version.
- Discs don't count. Worth repeating, because it's the easiest way to miss out.
Troubleshooting: if your progress hasn't appeared on the second device, make sure you're on the same account and that you fully quit the game on the first device before launching it on the second. Because only one device can be signed in to a game at a time, a session left running on the other device can get in the way.
The upshot is simple. If you play on both console and PC, check for the Play Anywhere label, buy digital, and you've got one game in two places for the price of one.
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