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Microsoft’s foray into the subscription service market with Xbox Game Pass has been a massive success. Fans all across the globe have been appreciative of the efforts Microsoft is making with the service, as the platform makes many games accessible to a much larger demographic than before. It’s fair to say that Xbox Game Pass ended 2021 on a high, with not one but two smash-hit titles debuting on the service.
343 Industries’ Halo Infinite gave countless newcomers a chance to experience Master Chief’s adventures across Zeta Halo without having to pay the full retail price. Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 accumulated millions of players in just a couple of days following its launch, which can be majorly attributed to the audience the game got through Xbox Game Pass. 2022 is looking to be a similarly fruitful year for fans of the service, and it seems January’s offerings have already set the tone for what to expect.
Xbox Game Pass: January 2022 In Review
Fans recently got to experience a handful of new and old releases through monthly Game Pass additions, with the highlight being Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, which is easily one of the best remasters of 2021. There’s also the time-looping space mystery of Outer Wilds and the brutal-yet-satisfying roguelike Spelunky 2, among others.
Microsoft has also struck a deal with Ubisoft, which will see its subscription service Ubisoft+ arriving to the platform (although it wouldn’t be a part of the subscription unlike EA Play). The French publishing giant’s upcoming release, Rainbow Six Extraction, will also now debut on Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC on January 20.
Most recently, IO Interactive announced the Hitman trilogy, which will combine the three games in the World of Assassination trilogy into one release and is also set to release on January 20. Once again, the games will launch on Xbox Game Pass for both PC and consoles.
Xbox Game Pass In 2022: Setting The Tone Of What’s To Follow
January 2022 has been a fruitful month for Microsoft and has set the ball rolling for what to expect going forward. It seems safe to assume that fans can expect similar surprise additions to the already bursting-in-value subscription service, alongside the healthy dose of first party and third part content that’s already planned to release this year.
Fans already have a ton of promising first party games to look forward to seeing on Xbox Game Pass. These games include but are not limited to Arkane Studios’ Redfall and the highly-acclaimed Deathloop from the same developer. The Turn10-developed soft reboot Forza Motorsport is also on track to make it in time for release sometime this year. Most importantly, Bethesda’s upcoming space odyssey Starfield will also be dropping on its iconic release date of November 11.
That’s all on top of the bursting library of third party exclusives - such as the likes of GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, the Jumpship-developed Sommerville, Ebb Software’s Scorn, Shredders, Remedy’s CrossFireX, and so much more. There’s also launch-day inclusions of major multi-platform releases, from A Plague Tale: Requiem to the Zelda-inspired indie adventure Tunic to the black-and-white Trek to Yomi.
In conclusion, 2022 looks exciting for Xbox fans as the sophomore year of the Xbox Series consoles finally ends the drought of console exclusives for the platform. Of course, that’s not the end of the road - but merely the start. Games like Everwild, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the Fable reboot, Avowed, and The Outer Worlds 2 will most likely continue to feed Xbox Game Pass with tons of quality content over the coming months and years.
