Highlights
- Xbox Game Pass continues to add day one game releases, with July 2023 seeing the addition of Venba, a highly-rated narrative cooking game.
- Xbox Live Gold is being replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core in September, offering a small selection of Game Pass titles instead of free Games with Gold games.
- In August 2023, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can expect two brand-new day one releases, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and RPG Sea of Stars, along with other exciting additions like Celeste and the console version of Everspace 2.
Microsoft has yet again updated its Xbox Game Pass subscription service, this time adding day one game Venba to the service. While July is traditionally a slow month for the video game industry in general, July 2023 has been plenty exciting for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
Xbox Game Pass received multiple updates in July 2023 that saw the addition of brand-new game releases and even the announcement of a new Game Pass tier. Come September, Xbox Live Gold is going away and being replaced with Xbox Game Pass Core. Xbox Game Pass Core is basically a continuation of Xbox Live Gold, but the free Games with Gold games are swapped out for a small selection of Game Pass titles instead.
Anyone wanting to play day one Xbox Game Pass games will want to sign up for Console, PC, or Ultimate tiers of Xbox Game Pass instead. Those signed up for one of those Game Pass tiers can now play day one game Venba, a narrative cooking game that has earned mostly positive reviews so far. The game has an 81 overall rating at the time of this writing, so it's definitely something Xbox Game Pass subscribers should consider checking out. There are some exceptions to the rule, but it's usually a safe bet that games will stay on Xbox Game Pass for at least a year after they're added.
Venba wasn't the only day one game added to Xbox Game Pass in July 2023. Earlier in the month, Xbox Game Pass subscribers were treated to Capcom's new dinosaur game Exoprimal as another day one release. Game Pass subscribers were also free to check out early access game Techtonica through Xbox Game Pass on day one. Luckily, there are even more day one Xbox Game Pass games in the pipeline for August.
Microsoft has yet to reveal all the new Xbox Game Pass games for August 2023, but fans do know to expect two brand-new day one releases next month in the form of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre on August 18 and RPG Sea of Stars on August 29. And while day one games are typically the most exciting new additions to Game Pass each month, two other games have been confirmed for August 2023 as well.
Besides the new day one games for August 2023, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also look forward to the award-winning Celeste on August 1, as well as the console version of Everspace 2 on August 15. Those with PC Game Pass have been able to play Everspace 2 for months now, but August 15 will mark the first time that Game Pass subscribers on console can play the game with their subscription.