Microsoft adds new games to the Xbox Game Pass service on a regular basis. Sometimes these are brand-new day one releases, and other times they are older titles that still serve an important role in gaining and maintaining subscribers. The latest update to Xbox Game Pass adds an Xbox 360-era Final Fantasy game to the mix, giving subscribers the chance to check out Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13.
The addition of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 to the Xbox Game Pass lineup means that subscribers can now play through Lightning's entire trilogy of games. Final Fantasy 13 and Final Fantasy 13-2 were added to Xbox Game Pass some months ago. They are in fact the only Final Fantasy games available for Xbox Game Pass at the time of this writing with the exception of Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remaster, though that collection's days on Game Pass are likely numbered.
There used to be many more Final Fantasy games available on Xbox Game Pass, but they have since migrated to PlayStation Now. One by one, as PlayStation Now added Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, and 12, the games left Xbox Game Pass. The only exception is Final Fantasy 10, which is currently available on both PlayStation Now and Xbox Game Pass subscription services.
New Xbox Game Pass Games for March 2022 List
- Far: Changing Tides (Cloud/Console/PC) - March 1
- Microsoft Flight Simulator (Cloud) - March 1
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 (Console/PC) - March 3
- Kentucky Route Zero (Cloud/Console/PC) - March 10
- Lawn Mowing Simulator (Xbox One) - March 10
- Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (Cloud/Console/PC) - March 10
- Young Souls (Cloud/Console/PC) - March 10
- Shredders - March 17
- A Memoir Blue - March 24
- Crusader Kings 3 - March 29
- Weird West - March 31
While hardcore Final Fantasy fans may be sad to see the classics removed from Xbox Game Pass, others may be happy that they can now play Lightning's trilogy of games from start to finish. It's no secret that the Final Fantasy 13 games aren't exactly the most popular of the main series Final Fantasy titles, but they all still provide a significant amount of content that should keep Game Pass subscribers for quite some time.
As for future Final Fantasy games, fans shouldn't hold their breath about seeing them hit Xbox anytime soon. Unverified reports have claimed that Sony is looking to make Final Fantasy PlayStation exclusive this generation, which is apparent by the upcoming Final Fantasy 16 being a timed-PS5 exclusive. If Sony is able to keep Final Fantasy 7 Remake and other new FF games off Xbox, it could definitely help drive JRPG fans to PlayStation.
In the meantime, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 is just the latest new game added to Xbox Game Pass in March 2022. The new Xbox Game Pass games for March 2022 have already included day one game Far: Changing Tides as well as the Cloud version of Microsoft Flight Simulator, with a number of other games on deck for Game Pass later this month as well.