Summary
It’s been almost seven years sinceXbox Game Passfirst launched, and it’s seen plenty of change and evolution in that time. From doubling down on Xbox’s backwards compatibility support to offering a new spotlight for Indie developers,Xbox Game Passhas built itself around a number of different strategies over the years, eventually culminating in the service many now refer to as the best deal in gaming, and it still feels like it’s just getting started.
Xbox Game Pass Keeps Delivering Day-One Releases
Day-One Releases Have Always Been Xbox Game Pass' Biggest Selling Point
With the fast rise ofstreaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, it seemed like it would only be a matter of time before the video game industry joined in, but even then, many fans were skeptical of Xbox Game Pass upon its first announcement. While the idea of an ever-growing library of video games for just one monthly price sounded enticing, Game Pass' initial line-up didn’t do much to impress long-time Xbox players, many of whom had already been playing those games for years at that point. But that soon changed with the introduction of Xbox Game Pass' first day-one, first-party release.
In September 2019, Xbox Game Pass receivedGears 5on the same day it launched. For just $10 at the time, fans could get their hands on a copy ofGears 5on launch day, delivered digitally straight to their Xbox. This level of value was unprecedented at the time, and the more day-one releases hit Xbox Game Pass, the higher the service’s value got.
Xbox Game Pass' 2024 Line-Up Has Doubled Down On Day-One Launches
For years now,Xbox Game Pass' day-one releaseshave been the service’s greatest selling-point. Though getting an instant library of well over 100 games is still enticing, nothing beats the feeling of playing a brand-new release on launch day for no extra cost, and thankfully, it’s a pattern that Xbox Game Pass has kept up. So far in 2024, every month has brought with it at least two day-one Xbox Game Pass releases, ranging from smaller launches likeTurnip Boy Robs a BankandOpen Roads, to more high-profile launches likePalworldandPersona 3 Reload.
April is set to continue this long-running trend for Xbox Game Pass, offering a total of three day-one launches withHarold Halibut,Another Crab’s Treasure, andManor Lords. While these may not be the most anticipated releases, their day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass is a win-win for all parties, with fans being able to try these games for no extra cost, and developers being able to reach a much wider audience right off the bat. And this pattern might be around for a while yet.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is set to hit Xbox Game Pass in just a few weeks, quickly followed byStill Wakes the Deep,Frostpunk 2, andStalker 2. Then there’sAvowedandIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, two games slated for a day-one Game Pass launch later in the year. Currently, 2024 is on track to be one of the best years ever for day-one Xbox Game Pass releases.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft’s flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.
