When announcing Gears of War 4 at its E3 event today, Microsoft unveiled a new gaming feature called Xbox Play Anywhere. Essentially, this initiative allows a gamer to purchase a title once but still have the option to play on console and PC.

As perhaps the headlining feature of Xbox Play Anywhere, multiplayer across the two platforms will become a reality. With Gears of War 4, for instance, the co-op modes will support crossplay between Windows 10 and Xbox One users. Progress and achievements will be shared on Xbox Live across these platforms at no additional cost.

Going forward, any game associated with the Anywhere logo—that PC-atop-a-console icon above—will be eligible for the initiative. For instance, Microsoft announced that Forza Horizon 3 will be another upcoming Xbox Play Anywhere title, and the company later mentioned Ark: Survival Evolved during its presentation highlighting indie games. That title will be free on Windows 10 to those that bought it on Xbox One "thanks to Play Anywhere," according to the presenter.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Will we want to play these games anywhere?

As for the titles themselves, Gears of War 4 was announced as an Xbox One/Windows 10 exclusive set to launch on October 11. The gameplay shown seemed to promise more of the same from the series (chainsaws included), and this particular release will also have a specially branded Elite controller available.

Forza Horizon 3 will arrive a few weeks earlier on September 27. It's also an Xbox One/Windows 10 exclusive. Set in Australia, the game will allow for four-player campaign co-op for the first time. And this version of Horizon will feature "the largest car roster ever seen in Horizon," according to Ralph Fulton from Playground Games.