Xbox Game Pass Content Library
It sounds like a cliche, but Xbox Game Pass really does offer something for everyone within its 200-or-so strong lineup.
PlayStation Now offers over 800 titles, but with many of them only available through streaming, your mileage may vary.
As noted earlier, DOOM Eternal was recently added to the console version of the service, while the likes of Forza Horizon 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Gears 5 all bulk out an impressive first-party showing.
Third-party titles are spread between single and multiplayer games of both indie and AAA varieties. Players can jump into the entire Kingdom Hearts franchise, or play a few rounds of multiplayer juggernaut Rainbow Six: Siege.
Bungies Destiny 2 is available on Game Pass, too, with all expansions included and Beyond Light, due in November, also arriving on day one.
Then there are Xbox 360 and original Xbox classics, with Fable, Fallout New Vegas, and Mass Effect at your fingertips.
EA Play will only bolster the lineup further, adding recent releases like Need For Speed: Heat and Battlefield V, as well as classics like Dragon Age: Origins and Skate 3. Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, too, should mean we get an extensive supply of Fallout and Elder Scrolls games for the service.
While the PC list is a little slimmer , players can enjoy the likes of ARK: Survival Evolved, Crusader Kings III, Forza Motorsport 7, and more.
Xbox Game Pass 2021 Review: What’s Not So Great
Xbox Game Pass has a range of idiosyncrasies that hinder the platform in some ways. They range from mild irritations to bigger problems, but I would preface by saying none of it feels really like a deal-breaker. Moreover, this is just a range of things I think Microsoft could add to improve the platform.
The first pain point I often see across social media from those with kids is the lack of family access. If you’re using a single shared Xbox, every profile on that home Xbox gains access to Xbox Game Pass. However, if you have multiple Xbox consoles and have a bigger family, you’ll need multiple Xbox Game Pass subscriptions to keep everybody online simultaneously. This is a drawback of Xbox Game Pass that seems to have been overlooked at the time of the service’s creation.
Netflix and Disney+ both support multiple logins across multiple devices with simultaneous streams at different price tiers. I think it would be within Microsoft’s interest to at least consider offering a higher-paid tier for multi-user licensing for families.
Another source of irritation for me at least comes from Project xCloud, or Xbox Game Pass for cloud, across Android . Microsoft is among the first and most prolific companies to offer a cloud gaming option in their service at this scale. Sony has PlayStation Now but doesn’t consistently offer its own games into the service. Amazon Luna is just starting up, and Google Stadia is arguably winding down.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
- Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- X|S Enhanced: Yes
- File Size: 39 GB
Let’s get this out of the way: Yakuza: Like a Dragon is a perfect jumping-off point for anyone new to the Yakuza series. It’s a whole new cast of characters in a whole new area. Yes, there are nods to the rest of the franchise, but there’s nothing to hamper newcomers’ enjoyment. Unlike the rest of the Yakuza games, Like a Dragon is a JRPG in the vein of Dragon Quest or classic Final Fantasycomplete with a party of loveable characters on a noble quest. What fans of the genre won’t be expecting is how well these tropes translate to a modern-day crime drama about found family. Yakuza: Like a Dragon is fun, funny, and an absolute joy to play through. Don’t miss it!
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Xbox Game Pass Added $6300 Worth Of Games This Year
Halo Infinite
343
Everyone has been extolling the virtues of Xbox Game Pass the past year in terms of it being a great value for Xbox fans. But exactly how great of a value? Thats now been calculated by The Loadout, a site that did the math and says that in 2021, Xbox Game Pass added games that in total, add up to $6,317.35, based on Microsoft Store prices.
While Game Pass is known for its higher profile offerings, and may feel like youre saving $60 here and there for must-haves like Forza Horizon 5 or the Halo Infinite campaign, its catalogue is a lot deeper than that, hence the thousands of dollars in value added this year alone.
However, while its a big number, this way of looking at a subscription service seems a little bit dated. I cant remember anyone calculating how much say, Netflix offers with streaming as opposed to what it could cost to buy or rent every TV season box set or blu-ray movie thats offered there. Netflix, at $15 a month, would probably produce a total that is miles beyond $6,300 in total value with thousands of movies and shows in its depths.
Top 10
Game Pass is a must-have at this point for Xbox players, and is only getting more valuable in time. I might expect a price increase at some point here, given its popularity, so if youre picking it up, maybe pay for it for a few years, rather than just one, or doing it month to month.
You Game On Both Console And Pc
Are you someone who is just as likely to play a PC game as a console game? If so, then having access to Xbox Game Pass on both platforms could be something you want. Game Pass on each platform will cost you about $10 a month separately. For $15 a month, however, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will give you both. And itll throw in those other perks, too.
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How Is The Mobile App
The Xbox Game Pass mobile app for Android and iOS allows subscribers to keep track of their games. You will also get notifications when new games go live on the service. You can even use the app to queue games for download on your Xbox console while you are not at home. This will allow you to start playing the game when you get back to your house and avoid lengthy downtime.
The Android version of the app is also how Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers stream and play games via the cloud gaming service. That feature is not available on the iOS version of the app. However, Microsoft is working to make this work on iOS devices via a web site option.
You Already Subscribe To Xbox Live Gold
An Xbox Live Gold subscription on its own will run you roughly $10 per month or $60 per year. If you also want Xbox Game Pass, then, theres really no downside to going with the Ultimate tier. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes Xbox Live Gold as part of the package. So you are getting all the goodies of Ultimate access on both console and PC, cloud gaming, EA Play, etc. while also getting an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Thats a tough deal to beat.
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What Comes With Xbox Game Pass
A lot! But as with any Microsoft subscription, pricing can be confusing. The basic packages Game Pass for PC and Game Pass for Console are $9.99 per month. Each gives you access to hundreds of gamesthe difference is a few PC-only and console-only titles in each respective package. However, you wont be able to play AAA titles online without having an Xbox Live Gold subscription which is an additional $9.99 per month .
For $14.99 per month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate essentially bundles a Gold subscription in with your Game Pass PC/Console package. Note that for free games like Fortnite and Microsoft has waived the Xbox Live Gold requirement. If thats all you want, purchasing a $9.99 Game Pass by itself might make sense.
While Game Pass Ultimate is a few bucks a month more expensive than any competing services from Stadia, PlayStation, and GeForce Now, it offers more value. PlayStation separates its game catalog from its online service making the total cost $20 a month, and you still need to stream most of the games. Stadia makes you purchase full titles only to have to pay a subscription to stream them , and GeForce now is also streaming-based and limited to PC only.
Save a few bucks on your subscription
A Steady Monthly Subscription Rate That Covers Ps Plus And Ea Access
Though its not necessarily a direct benefit that stands out, it is an advantage worth mentioning when compared to other services such as PlayStation Plus and EA Access. Both services add up after six months and require their subscriber base to constantly pay extra money for new games despite already paying $60/year.
Though Xbox Game Pass is $24 cheaper than both PlayStation Plus and EA Access combined, even if you plan on playing one game per month.
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Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
Ugh, I love Metroidvanias. I especially love them when theyre themed after Castlevania. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is the long-awaited game from Koji Igarashi, former Castlevania series director. Originally started as a Kickstarter project, the game was quickly funded and fans waited in excited anticipation.
And Ive got to say, Bloodstained lived up to all the hype. Although youre not playing as a member of the famed Belmont clan or even Draculas dhampir son, the story is no less compelling. Playing as Miriam, one of the last living Shardbinders, you enter a massive demonic castle to save the world from impending doom. As you traverse the castle, youll fight all manner of abominations, but dont worry, youll get plenty of weapons and supernatural abilities to beat back the denizens of darkness. And similar to other Castlevania games, theres more going on than meets the eye.
If you have one, I highly recommend playing this game on a 4K HDR TV or display. Its just that pretty.
Sherri L. Smith
Xbox’s Game Subscription Service Just Suddenly Got A Whole Lot More Interesting
ByDominic Preston, Deputy Editor| 18 Mar 2021
Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft’s monthly gaming subscription service for Xbox consoles and PC, and is undeniably one of the best deals in gaming right now.
The service lets you access a library of Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S games, even letting you download them to play offline. But unlike Sony’s PlayStation Now, Xbox Game Pass also features first-party games as soon as they’re released, along with a host of other benefits and perks.
Read on to find out about the pricing, features, which games are on offer and how the subscription service will work on the next-gen consoles.
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Content Library
Taking the perks, the Quests, and the Xbox Live membership out of the equation, its time to answer the question: what is there to play?
While PlayStation Now offers more than 800 games, some of which are playable on PC, much of it relies on a streaming connection. It’s also restricted to only PS4, PS3 and PS2 titles, which the latter two can only be streamed.
Xbox Game Pass offers around 200 titles on console, all of which are able to be downloaded and played locally, while PC players have around 150 to enjoy. That number continues to grow as over 20 Bethesda games are now on the service, and EA Play has also inject over 50 more titles into the mix.
Both Xbox Game Pass on console and PC get a healthy mix of genres and games, so expect the likes of indie darlings like Slay The Spire and Dead Cells to sit alongside Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Motorsport 7, and Sea of Thieves on both platforms. Some games will only be available on console or PC, however.
Then there are big-budget third-party titles, with the likes of the aforementioned Doom Eternal and Rainbow Six: Siege on console, while PC players can enjoy new releases like Wasteland 3 and popular titles like ARK: Survival Evolved. Destiny 2 is also available for console players, with the Beyond Light expansion launching into Game Pass.
Resident Evil : Biohazard
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 22 GB
In a marvelous return to form, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard terrifies players with a mix of hideous creatures to contend with and tense moments of resource management. Rather than buckling down with the more action-oriented setpieces of its predecessors, Biohazard grounds players in a single location for the majority of the game. As Ethan Winters, you must navigate your way through the peril-riddled and decrepit Baker house in search of your missing wife, Mia. The games switch to first-person perspective from the Resident Evil franchises typical third-person viewpoint is a gamble that pays off as players now have to deal with monsters face-to-face, in a very literal sense.
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Xbox Game Pass: Everything You Need To Know
Xbox Game Pass is so far the best Netflix for video games option available on the market and with good reason. Major console and PC games are getting more and more expensive. The retail price for major Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 games is now reaching $70. With Game Pass, you can instantly unlock over 100 games to play on your PC or console for one small monthly fee.
So what is Xbox Game Pass and what does it have to offer? Weve outlined everything you need to know in this in-depth explainer. Note that we also have a separate guide for its more expensive brother, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Where It Falls Short
As a jack-of-all-trades, XGPU doesn’t master every aspect. For instance, its cloud gaming stream is still limited to 1080p at 60fps, while Stadia can do 4K and GeForce Now 1440p at 120fps.
And there are few things more rage-inducing than settling in to play on your PC and discovering that the game won’t launch until you update Windows because the Xbox app is too enmeshed with the Microsoft Store — a major buzzkill that has frequently impelled us to move on to other, non-Game Pass games.
It offers a notable number of new games and Day One launches, but the library also sheds games regularly. Like many subscription services, the game you want always seems to be on the service you don’t subscribe to.
While it’s great that EA Play is included in the subscription price for XGPU, it’s not integrated that closely. For example, on the PC you still need to install yet another launcher and family settings in XGPU don’t apply to EA Play.
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Xbox Game Pass Console
Xbox Game Pass Console allows you to access the full catalog of Game Pass games on Xbox One. There are around 100 games on the service at any given time, so most gamers wont have trouble finding something to play.
Game Pass Console costs $9.99 a month. This plan is a good option for someone who doesnt have a PC and isnt interested in multiplayer or Games With Gold.
Xbox Game Pass Console
What It’s Not Great For:
- It’s not great for those who still enjoy collecting physical games
- The lack of a family plan can inflate costs in big families
- The community aspects are weak compared to other services and platforms
- Xbox Game Pass cloud needs a lot of work on usability and ergonomics
For anyone who wants to game while saving money, for others who simply want all-you-can-eat exploration and discovery, and for those who want to take their games on the go, Xbox Game Pass is simply divine.
There are features and improvements that need to come before I would describe the service as hitting maturity. The Xbox app on Windows 10 leaves a lot to be desired, for example, and the ergonomics of gaming on a phone have a long way to go. But at its core, Xbox Game Pass is all about games. Games, games, and more games. When it comes to that, Xbox Game Pass is a champion. Also, games.
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Xbox Game Pass Offers More Than Just Games
Aside from the sheer number of titles, subscribers also get more perks from Xbox Game Pass. Console subscribers get member discounts, exclusive deals, and access to Xbox Game Studios titles the same day as release.
If you pick the PC plan, you also get access to EA Play, which has over 60 titles in its library. This includes several game franchises like Need for Speed, Battlefield, and Star Wars, plus classic titles like The Sims 4, Sim City, Command and Conquer, and Red Alert 3.
The Ultimate subscription offers even more, including the ability to play from the cloud, exclusive in-game content, and Xbox Live Gold.
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Gears Of War: Ultimate Edition
- Approximate Game Length: 10 Hours
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 44 GB
The Gears of War franchise is emblematic of third-person cover-based shooters with a heavy emphasis on cooperative gameplay, but at this point, the original titles are starting to really show their age. This is what makes Gears of War: Ultimate Edition a fantastic get on Game Pass it gives players a chance to experience the series roots with a fresh coat of paint and some great quality-of-life improvements. The graphics have been generally enhanced, enemies can be spotted, and weapons can be switched during mad dashes from cover to cover. But aside from these improvements, this Ultimate Edition lets players take a peek at the beginning of Marcus Fenixs journey and reintroduces the chainsaw-action of the series staple weapon, the Lancer. What more could a Gears fan want?
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