Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass has provided hundreds of excellent titles for players since it launched in 2017. This year was another strong period for the service, with plenty of Day One games like Halo Infinite, Psychonauts 2, and Outriders joining Xbox Game Pass. Along with other popular titles released throughout the year, 2021 ensured that the service provided players with more than enough variety to keep them entertained, with critically acclaimed older games and newer, highly anticipated ones added regularly.
From what has been revealed so far, it seems that 2022 will be no different. Xbox Game Pass has slowly become Microsoft's focus over the older model of Games with Gold, and it has continued to add brand new titles along with popular and established games to give players a wide array to choose from. With games being periodically added and removed throughout the year, there's always something new for gamers to pick up, and with over thirty Day One titles coming in 2022, it seems like it's as good a time as any to get a subscription to the service.
How 2022 Is Shaping Up
Xbox Game Pass is setting 2022 up as another stellar year for the service, with even more announcements yet to come. From PC titles to console exclusives, online multiplayer to solo experiences, there's more than enough on the horizon to get gamers excited. Anticipated titles like Redfall and challenging sequels like Hello Neighbor 2 join the list, and from what has been revealed so far, it seems like the subscription service could go from strength to strength. Here is the full list of every new addition to Xbox Game Pass announced for 2022 so far.
- The Anacrusis - January 13
- Pupperazzi - January 20
- Windjammers 2 - January 20
- Shredders - February TBD
- Edge of Eternity - February 10
- Total War: Warhammer III - February 17
- Weird West - March 31
- Warhammer 40k: Darktide - Spring TBD
- STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl - April 28
- Midnight Fight Express - Summer TBD
- Redfall - Summer TBD
- Scorn - October TBD
- Starfield - November 11
- A Plague Tale: Requiem - TBD
- Atomic Heart - TBD
- Bushiden - TBD
- Chinatown Detective Agency - TBD
- Crusader Kings 3 - TBD
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising - TBD
- Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery - TBD
- Hello Neighbor 2 - TBD
- Loot River - TBD
- Nobody Saves The World - TBD
- Party Animals - TBD
- The Pigeon Simulator - TBD
- Replaced - TBD
- Signalis - TBD
- Slime Rancher 2 - TBD
- Sniper Elite 5 - TBD
- Somerville - TBD
- Trek to Yomi - TBD
Although a good chunk of the games announced for Xbox Game Pass still have a question mark beside their release date (and it could be that some of these titles slip out of 2022 and into 2023 if they face any development delays), it's still an exciting starting point. Alongside more established franchises like Sniper Elite, there is also a healthy dose of mysterious new IPs that will no doubt intrigue gamers who are more drawn to boundary-pushing indie titles like Trek to Yomi.
Day One Games Coming To Xbox Game Pass
Along with three Day One games announced already for January, Xbox Game Pass has also peppered the rest of the year with brand-new releases that subscribers will be able to access from the very first day. The rest of the year is just as full of Day One releases as the start, with titles such as Edge of Eternity, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Weird West joining Xbox Game Pass as soon as they're launched. Although older games can be just as exciting, as they give players a chance to experience old favorites again or to introduce new gamers to some of the classics, new titles are usually the big selling points for the service.
Day One releases are a huge plus point for Xbox Games Pass and can single it out above other subscription services, with gamers able to access brand-new games without any delays. For online multiplayer games, this is an advantage that cannot be understated, as players are able to join servers and experience a game from the first day. This means they can get valuable experience and practice before a large number of gamers have had a chance to jump in. Not only that, but many players just want to get their hands on titles as soon as they can, particularly for ones with long development cycles or highly anticipated games like Arkane Studios' upcoming action-adventure multiplayer game Redfall.
Xbox Games Pass' Best Upcoming Games To Check Out
The new games announced for Xbox Game Pass in 2022 indicate a great year for the subscription service, but there is still an impressive array of titles for gamers to enjoy in addition to the upcoming ones. 2021 additions included excellent titles like Hades, Scarlet Nexus, and Control, giving gamers the chance to check out multiple genres, styles, and stories across the year. This past year saw a wide range of games added to Xbox Game Pass, from sports titles like MLB The Show 21 to the newest addition to one of Xbox's biggest and best loved franchises, Halo Infinite.
The breadth of the games announced for Xbox Game Pass in 2022 is just as broad. The year starts off strong, with a four-player, cooperative first-person shooter called The Anacrusis which will be released in early access in January. The game is reminiscent of other cooperative shooters like Left 4 Dead, and follows four unlikely survivors as they battle against an alien menace on a 70s-inspired spaceship. With an AI Driver controlling every single aspect of the game from spawning enemies, items, and boss behaviours, players will be continually challenged and should avoid the inevitable boredom of repetitive gameplay.
Asobo's 2019 A Plague Tale: Innocence was a surprisingly heartfelt and challenging stealth game set against the brutal and harsh environments of 14th century France during the Hundred Years' War. The game's sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem, picks up where the first game left off, following the fortunes of two oprhans as they attempt to survive. Not much has been revealed about the upcoming game since its announcement earlier this year, but developers Asobo will no doubt build on the strong storytelling and admittedly grim but still beautiful visuals of the first game, making A Plague Tale: Requiem one to check out.
With a collection of impressive and critically lauded games under its belt, Arkane Studios has earned its place among some of the most well-respected developers in the industry. The studio is leaving behind the majority of its more familiar formulas for its new game, however, with the announcement of its multiplayer-focused vampire-hunting FPS Redfall. Although aspects of previous Arkane games look like they have still wormed their way into the newest title, Redfall presents some interesting opportunities for the developers to display unique mechanics and test new ideas. With multiplayer always a popular choice among gamers, and Arkane providing its prestigious gamemaking lineage, Redfall looks to be one of 2022's most exciting new additions for Xbox Game Pass.
