Highlights

  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers the best value for gamers with access to Xbox Live, all Game Pass titles, cloud games, and PC Game Pass games.
  • Against the Storm, a popular city builder game with roguelite elements, is coming to PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on December 8.
  • Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is a great deal for players who own both an Xbox console and a gaming PC, providing access to exclusive games on both platforms.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is adding Against the Storm on Friday, December 8, available to anyone with a gaming PC capable of running it. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest-tier of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, but it gives subscribers significant bang for their buck. Beyond the fact that it gives users access to Xbox Live and all the games available in the vanilla Game Pass library, it also includes cloud games and everything available to PC Game Pass subscribers.

PC Game Pass is self-explanatory - it's Xbox Game Pass, but for PC games. For the most part, there is parity between the standard Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, but there are times when a game is only available on one service or the other. This makes Xbox Game Pass Ultimate a great deal for anyone that has both an Xbox console and a gaming PC. The next game coming to PC Game Pass but skipping console Game Pass is city builder Against the Storm.

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Against the Storm first hit Steam Early Access in November 2022, and it has proven to be a considerable hit on the platform. Thousands of user reviews have elevated Against the Storm's Steam rating to "Overwhelmingly Positive," so it should be a big "get" for PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate when it exits early access on December 8. And while there aren't many to read at the time of this writing, critic reviews for Against the Storm have been similarly positive, with significant praise for its city-building mechanics.

What is Against the Storm?

Against the Storm tasks players with rebuilding civilization after it was wiped out by an apocalyptic event. Players build and manage multiple cities, with added roguelite elements that make future runs increasingly easier. The roguelite elements seem to be especially popular, injecting Against the Storm with even more replay value than a typical city builder game brings to the table. The game's fantasy setting also helps it stand out among others in its genre, and so needless to say, it's something city builder fans should keep an eye on. Its impending availability on PC Game Pass/Xbox Game Pass Ultimate should make it easy for anyone interested to try it out, as they will be able to do so without actually having to buy the game themselves.

Against the Storm is one of two Xbox Game Pass games confirmed for December 2023 so far. The other is SteamWorld Build, a fellow city builder scheduled to drop on the service on December 1. Whereas Against the Storm is PC Game Pass-only, SteamWorld Build will only be available to console Game Pass players.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft's flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles that you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the most outstanding value propositions of the Xbox ecosystem to date.