Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Welcomes EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now dive into two vastly different gaming experiences: EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo. These additions mark the completion of Wave 1 for January 2025's Game Pass lineup.
Released a remarkable 27 years apart, these titles offer a compelling contrast. Diablo, the seminal hack-and-slash RPG that defined the genre in 1996, joins the lineup alongside EA Sports UFC 5, the latest installment in EA's popular MMA fighting franchise, released in October 2023. Both titles are available starting January 14th.
While Microsoft aims for cross-platform availability, these additions are platform-specific. Diablo is PC-only, while EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with sufficient internet speeds can stream EA Sports UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Activision Blizzard Games on Game Pass
With the addition of Diablo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles (considering Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This represents a steady influx of approximately one new Activision Blizzard game per month since Microsoft's acquisition. More titles from the extensive Activision Blizzard catalog are anticipated.
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
Game | Date Added | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
EA Sports UFC 5 | Jan 14 | Ultimate | Cloud, Series X/S | |
Diablo | Jan 14 | Ultimate, PC | PC | |
Eternal Strands | Jan 28 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
Sniper Elite: Resistance | Jan 30 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release. |
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector | Jan 31 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
Avowed | Feb 18 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
Atomfall | Mar 27 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release. |
Football Manager 25 | Mar ?? | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release; exact date TBA. |
Commandos: Origins | Mar ?? | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release; exact date TBA. |
EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo conclude January 2025's Wave 1. Wave 2 announcements are expected soon, potentially on January 21st, aligning with Microsoft's usual Tuesday release announcements.
Further announcements are anticipated before the January 23rd Xbox Developer Direct, which will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages – all confirmed as day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles slated for 2025. Note that six games will be removed from the service on January 15th, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.
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