Xbox Game Pass has had a banner year so far, and 2021 is not even halfway finished. Game Pass continues to provide an incredible value proposition to its subscribers, as the service started as an intrigue and has built up over time thanks to first-party day one software, studio acquisitions, and surprising third-party deals. Microsoft has certainly not shown any signs of slowing its support of the service, so it's likely that more notable titles will come to Xbox Game Pass in 2021; specifically on day one.
Beyond Game Pass, the remainder of the year is filled with exciting video game releases. However, a select few could be excellent choices to launch on the Xbox subscription service. Smaller titles like OlliOlli World, Blood Bowl 3, and F1 2021 could very easily find their way to the increasingly popular and growing Xbox Game Pass, but a few more heavy hitters would launch Game Pass to even greater heights.
At the beginning of 2021, Head of Xbox Phil Spencer teased a big year for Game Pass. Based on the addition of Bethesda games to the service (after the acquisition of ZeniMax Media), the shocking turnaround of MLB The Show 21, and Outriders alone, that is already true. But there are likely more day-one Xbox Game Pass titles on the way.
Back 4 Blood
One of the most intriguing and exciting upcoming 2021 games is Turtle Rock Studios' Back 4 Blood. The developer behind the creative but ultimately flawed Evolve is now working on a spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead; the beloved co-op zombie title. Back 4 Blood is under a lot of pressure thanks to the comparisons to the zombie shooter and the shortcomings of Evolve, but a lot of that could be alleviated if the game launched on day one for Xbox Game Pass.
Back 4 Blood is currently set for an October release after a recent delay (another reason for some of the title's pressure). If Microsoft could strike a deal with Turtle Rock Studios and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to bring the game to Xbox Game Pass "for free" to subscribers, plenty of fans would likely dive into the experience. Additionally, Back 4 Blood will apparently have cosmetic microtransactions, so the developer and publisher would be able to make up additional revenue from the deal that way as well.
The recent Outriders on Xbox Game Pass announcement felt perfect and also shocking. But the scale of the game feels similar to Back 4 Blood. Now that Microsoft has opened the door to day-one Xbox Game Pass deals such as Outriders — a game that has no affiliation with Xbox but feels like a great fit on the service — titles like Back 4 Blood could follow suit.
Tales of Arise
Tales of Arise is a highly anticipated upcoming action RPG that is set to release in September. The Bandai Namco title would be a big get for Microsoft, as Phil Spencer specifically has worked at strengthening relationships with Japanese developers.
A stronger bond with the region would mean that Xbox consoles and the services would likely perform better in Japan, but also Japanese-developed games may have more success on Xbox consoles in the U.S. and beyond. There have been whispers that Tales of Arise could launch on Xbox Game Pass, and if this is indeed true, it would be a breath of fresh air to see a very different type of game come to the service.
Crimson Desert
A sneaky pick for an Xbox Game Pass launch title would be Crimson Desert, the upcoming open-world action-adventure from Pearl Abyss. The breathtaking gameplay trailer of Crimson Desert shown at last year's The Game Awards almost stole the show.
Crimson Desert was originally planned as a sequel to Pearl Abyss' Black Desert Online, but the title morphed into something more: A singleplayer adventure set in the same universe. Currently Black Desert Online is an Xbox Game Pass title, which makes Crimson Desert a perfect candidate to launch on Game Pass when it releases later this winter.
Madden NFL 22
Based on some of the recent additions to the Xbox subscription service, a Madden NFL 22 and Game Pass marriage almost feels inevitable. One of the major positives is that EA and Microsoft already have a relationship thanks to EA Play's integration with Xbox Game Pass. Because of the deal and integration, Xbox Game Pass users can currently play games like Madden NFL 21, FIFA 21, and Star Wars: Squadrons (among many others). While releasing a Madden game on Game Pass day one has not happened yet, it seems like a feasible next step.
Madden NFL 22 would not be as shocking a win as MLB The Show 21 coming to Xbox Game Pass, but it would still be a big deal. MLB The Show was a series that was once exclusive to PlayStation, so it was a shock that it jumped ship by joining Xbox Game Pass on its launch day. But Madden NFL 22 is one of the more popular sports games in the U.S. Additionally, with the title also having plenty of microtransactions, EA would likely benefit quickly from players being able to play the game for free with a Game Pass subscription all while quickly getting hooked on the gameplay loop.
Battlefield 6
With every "win" that Xbox has been able to muster for Game Pass in 2021, perhaps none of them would compare to snagging Battlefield 6 on day one. This first-person-shooter is highly anticipated, as it has been three years since Battlefield 5 was released. There have been rumors that the newest Battlefield will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on launch day, and if that is indeed the case, Xbox would be flying high.
From the EA and Battlefield perspective, the competition against Call of Duty is as real as ever. The games come with controversy and complaints from time to time, but Call of Duty brought in 3 billion in net bookings last year; thanks to Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and Call of Duty: Mobile all actively being supported in that time frame. Battlefield 6 needs to challenge that.
A wise decision would be for Battlefield 6 to "jump-start" its launch by releasing on Xbox Game Pass on day one. If the option is Call of Duty 2021 for $60 USD or Battlefield 6 for "free" on Xbox Game Pass, the decision may be easy for many. The more players that have the opportunity to play Battlefield 6 the better. This same principle helped Fall Guys kickstart its rise to stardom last year on PS Plus, for example. Battlefield 6 on Xbox Game Pass would be a huge win for all.