Game Pass has been getting a steady stream of high-profile additions
Over the past year, Game Pass has cemented its position as the undisputed best deal in gaming subscription services, thanks to Microsoft’s willingness to add not only its own first-party titles on day of release, but also other AAA titles added just a few months after their release.
(At the time of writing, all of these games are available now)
DiRT 5
DiRT 5, one of the first titles to release with Series X|S upgrades, has now hit the service less than four months after its original release. We gave DiRT 5 a decent 7.5/10 in our review, saying, “DiRT 5 is a massively entertaining game, and while it gets a few things wrong, the core gameplay is solid. The co-op career is a great addition, and the easy to learn mechanics make this a great game for fans of arcade racers, or those who love off-road racing but find the likes of DiRT Rally too hardcore. If they had fleshed out the content a bit more and improved the progression, it would be great, but as it is, DiRT 5 never feels like it’s living up to its full potential.”
Wreckfest
Crash! Bang! Wallop! What a game!
In our review of Wreckfest on the Xbox One X, we gave it 8.5/10, saying, “This generation of consoles has been crying out for a game like Wreckfest. Racing games have been getting more serious and authentic, but that doesn’t always equate to more fun. Where Wreckfest succeeds, is in its ability to provide a proper handling system in addition to the phenomenal damage physics, yet still keeping gameplay accessible, entertaining and simple to pick up and play. Even without the destruction, this would be worth playing, and with it, it’s smashing, crashing, car obliterating joy.”
A minor bugbear I had with the One X version was the frame rate being capped at 30 fps, but now that it is available on console, cloud and PC with Game Pass Ultimate, I fired it up on an RTX 2070 Super desktop, bringing frame rates of 60 fps at 4k, with maximum graphics settings enabled.
While the new consoles haven’t had an official upgrade for Wreckfest, the new SSDs have made a huge improvement to the lengthy loading times, and it makes the whole experience feel much tighter and more enjoyable. If you haven’t played it yet, it should definitely be on your download list.
Superhot: Mind Control Delete (PC)
Time moves only when you move. The long-awaited third game in the groundbreaking Superhot franchise, Superhot: Mind Control Delete gives you more insight into the signature power fantasy world of Superhot with more story, more signature gameplay, more action, and more guns. Keep dancing the slow-motion ballet of destruction for so much longer than ever before.
Also added to Game Pass recently…
Code Vein (PC) – February 18
In the not-too-distant future, a mysterious disaster has collapsed the world as we know it. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. Team up with your friends and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare in Code Vein.
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire – Ultimate Edition (Cloud and Console) ID@Xbox – February 18
The ultimate edition of the award-winning RPG from the masters at Obsidian Entertainment is coming to Xbox Game Pass, featuring all major updates and expansions. Bend the world to your will as you explore the depths of infinite possibilities, including detailed character customization, total freedom of exploration, and more meaningful choices at every turn. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Ultimate Edition redefines the role-playing game experience for a new generation.
Killer Queen Black (Cloud and Console) ID@Xbox – February 23
Fight for your hive in this strategic team platformer! Killer Queen Black is an intense multiplayer action/strategy platformer for up to eight players. Hop on the snail, hoard berries, or wipe out the enemy’s queen to claim victory. Fly solo, or team up with three of your friends as you race to complete one of three possible victory conditions.
Elite Dangerous (Console) – February 25
Take control of your own starship in a cutthroat galaxy. Elite Dangerous is the definitive massively multiplayer space epic, bringing gaming’s original open world adventure to the modern generation with a connected galaxy, evolving narrative and the entirety of the Milky Way re-created at its full galactic proportions.
Touch Controls added to more cloud games
As great as it is being able to play full Xbox games on your mobile, you won’t always be carrying a controller with you. That’s why the addition of these touch-control enabled games are very welcome for gaming on the go!
- Bridge Constructor Portal
- Morkredd
- Neoverse
- Nowhere Prophet
- Spiritfarer
- The Little Acre
- Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair
