Tag: game pass

What’s coming to Xbox Game Pass on Day 1 this November

November is a good month for video games and this year is no different, nor is it for Game Pass, which is already very busy in its first fortnight.

Although October has not ended yet, we already have to think about November. After all, there are mere hours left until that happens. And that also means that Microsoft has already let us know which games will arrive on Game Pass during the first half of next month. Some very interesting new releases, a couple of surprises, in addition to some games that are arriving today. So, without further ado, let’s go through everything that Microsoft’s service brings us, starting with three games available right now.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Headbangers: Rhythm Royale (Consoles, PC and Cloud — October 31)

Defined as a Rhythm Royale, it is a game of small rhythmic competitions where we compete against 29 other people to see who emerges victorious from the succession of mini-games we encounter. Like a sort of Fall Guys, but with rhythm-based mini-games and adorable pigeon characters.

Jusant (Consoles, PC and Cloud — October 31)

Probably one of the games of the month is this Jusant. Developed by Don’t Nod, it puts us at the foot of a desolate tower filled with artifacts from past civilizations. With a very satisfying climbing mechanic and beautiful art direction, the game could end up being a small hit.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Wartales (Consoles, PC and Cloud – October 31)

One of the two surprise arrivals is Wartales. It’s an open-world RPG where we lead a group of mercenaries, managing our team, exploring the world, and earning rewards. All while delving into a vast world long forgotten.

Thirsty Suitors (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 2)

An RPG with a highly interesting artistic design that puts us in a unique situation: we are a young girl named Jala, who returns to her hometown, Timber Hils, to confront her past mistakes. This means facing her exes, reconciling with her own culture, all while engaging in turn-based combat, skateboarding, and cooking mini-games. A curiosity worth noting.

Football Manager 2024 (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 6)

The classic football management video game returns, now with a installment that promises significant changes in team management, both at the micro and macro levels. If you’re looking to play football, this is not your game. But if you want to turn your hometown team into league champions after eighteen seasons and sign unknown players from the Argentine league, this game has hundreds of hours to offer you.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Dungeons 4 (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 9)

Who said a dungeon has to be a dark and sinister place? Take on the role of the Supreme Evil and build a dungeon where your minions feel comfortable battling against the forces of good in a new iteration of the already classic Dungeons saga. An automatic must-play for fans of Realmforge Studios.

Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 9)

Without a doubt, the Game Pass game of the month is Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. It’s a new installment in the Yakuza franchise, now renamed Like A Dragon, which explores what happened to Kazuma Kiryu between the end of Yakuza 6 and the events of Yakuza: Like A Dragon. Absolutely essential for franchise fans, but also a must-play for any action game enthusiast.

Wild Hearts (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 9)

Through EA Play, we get Wild Hearts, EA’s take on Monster Hunter. With many interesting ideas and absolutely delightful for cooperative play with friends, it doesn’t have the depth of Capcom’s game but is perfectly enjoyable due to its unique ideas and their consistency. A little treat for those looking for a good game to play with friends.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Spirittea (Consoles, PC and Cloud — November 13)

A life simulator inspired by Stardew Valley and Spirited Away, in which we manage hot springs and, besides making friends with neighbors, we have to try to find all the spirits that inhabit the area. A calm and relaxing game for fans of cute games.

Coral Island (Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Cloud – November 14)

To finish off the first half of the month, Game Pass offers us Coral Island, a farming simulator with a Disney-esque aesthetic, fantasy elements, and a maritime theme. Placing special emphasis on the need for harmony and the importance of romance, it’s the classic farming game for those who want to dive into a game as ubiquitous as it is endless.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Activision Blizzard could become part of Microsoft this very week, but not necessarily its games

Microsoft could finally officially acquire Activision Blizzard, but that doesn’t mean you’ll see its games on Game Pass soon

The business world is a murky and complicated terrain. If navigating negotiations, conflicts, and plans is already challenging, it becomes even more difficult when one has to consider all the regulations and state bodies that impose, at times, seemingly arbitrary conditions. Just ask Microsoft, which, with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, has gone through a true ordeal that, it seems, is going to end this very week.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Almost two years after the acquisition was announced, it appears that this Friday the 13th, the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft will be finalized. This will mark the end of a saga that has been valued at $68.7 billion and has been dragging on since January 2022, involving several legal battles.

Many fans are hopeful that this means Activision Blizzard games will come to Xbox Game Pass. Just like all Microsoft games debut on the service on day one, it would be logical for games from this new company within the conglomerate to do the same, even retroactively. However, both companies have clarified that, for that to happen, we will have to wait beyond the purchase date.

On one hand, Microsoft has stated that they want to ‘offer as many Activision Blizzard games as possible on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new games and titles from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog.’ This was something Activision Blizzard clarified in a statement last Monday. ‘While we have no plans to put Modern Warfare III or Diablo IV on Game Pass this year, once the deal is closed, we look forward to working with Xbox to bring our titles to more players around the world.’

It’s worth noting that Modern Warfare III is set to be released on November 10, so unless something unexpected happens, it could be available on Game Pass on day one if they wanted. Therefore, it’s expected that these kinds of moves, if they happen, may not start occurring until at least 2024. This will be a real disappointment for many fans who were eagerly anticipating this moment precisely for this reason.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Everything Xbox has shown at the Tokyo Game Show: you’re in for a surprise

The Tokyo Games Show has started and, although it still lasts until Sunday, Xbox has already given us a few surprising announcements

From September 21st to 24th, the Tokyo Game Show takes place. As the largest video game fair in Asia, many companies don’t want to miss it, which is why many game announcements and novelties are made, especially targeting an Asian audience. That’s why, in addition to announcements that come to us little by little, we also have some larger conferences. For example, the one from Xbox. Since they are keen on breaking into the Japanese market, they attach special importance to this event and allocate more resources to it than one might expect.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

This year has been no exception. And the most interesting part has undoubtedly been the games that have been confirmed to be coming to Game Pass that we didn’t know about.

From Capcom, they have announced Ace Attorney Trilogy for September 26th. Additionally, they have announced that the next compilation in the franchise, Apollo Justice: Trilogy, will be released for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in early 2024. On the other hand, SEGA has made two announcements. Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name will come to Xbox Game Pass on its release day, November 9th, and Like A Dragon: Ishin!, the spin-off set in feudal Japan from the franchise, will arrive on the service at some point in 2023.

Unfortunately, while the Game Pass announcements have been exciting, Xbox’s own announcements have been forgettable. They showed a circuit from Forza Motorsport, the Hakone circuit, provided more details about the new location in Fallout 76, Atlantic City, and confirmed that The Elder Scrolls Online will have a Japanese translation available on November 15th. Not much of interest for us here.

On the other hand, the third-party announcements have been more interesting. They’ve shown more of previously announced games like Persona 5 Tactica, Persona 3 Reload, Palworld, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. But there have also been updates on known games. Exoprimal has showcased its second season, Party Animals has confirmed a collaboration with Ori, and the second DLC for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, titled Conqueror of Jiangdong, has been confirmed. Additionally, Octopath Traveler II will arrive on Xbox and PC consoles in early 2024.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

There haven’t been many new games, but there have been some very interesting ones. On one hand, they’ve announced My Lovely Empress, the third part of the My Lovely saga, an empire management game coming to Xbox and PC consoles in 2024. On the other hand, they’ve announced Altheia: The Wrath of Aferi, an adventure and action game about two siblings exploring temple ruins inspired by the works of Hayao Miyazaki and Mamoru Hosoda. However, the biggest announcement has been Hotel Barcelona. It’s a crazy hack ‘n’ slash game born from the minds of Swery65 and Suda51 that will have us facing the most notorious serial killers in the U.S. with our past selves.

With that, they’ve concluded forty-five intense minutes, clearly targeted at the Japanese audience, but with some very interesting things for us as well. It was an intriguing conference that leaves a positive impression about the future of Japanese franchises in the Xbox ecosystem.

NBA players are going to space…sort of

Xbox is pampering the launch of Starfield a lot, to the point of putting advertising on the court of the New York Liberty, women NBA team

The NBA is full of stars. People with a lot of money, a lot of fame, and whose presence is culturally gigantic. That’s why it’s surprising that none of them has yet dared to go into space. Even if it is a short trip, for tourism, as other eccentric millionaires have done, whose fortunes we don’t know where they come from. Perhaps the latter is why they have not done so. Because they have their feet on the ground, regardless. But somehow, Microsoft has made sure that, in their own way, they will be able to touch the stars.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Although perhaps not widely known, Xbox has a long-standing partnership with the New York Liberty, the New York women’s basketball team, with whom they do promotions. For the release of Starfield, they have decided to do something very original: add the game’s rainbow-style symbol on both ends of the court.

Although this action will only last two games, the one they had against the Los Angeles Sparks on the 7th and the one they would have against the Washington Mystics on September 10, this is not the only joint advertising action they have done. Already last year, in August 2022, they customized the court with Xbox colors and symbols in another cross-promotion. Something that seems to be working well for them.

Or so it is implied from the statements of Keia Clarke, the CEO of the New York Liberty. “This partnership comes to life during a historic time for both parties, with Bethesda Studios launching its biggest video game in a decade, and the New York Liberty having their best season in franchise history,” said the team’s CEO.

Starfield was published on September 6 for Xbox Series.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Windows Insiders get VIP access to Game Pass

Microsoft has rolled out a delightful update exclusively for members of the Windows Insider Program. This update introduces a dedicated section in the Microsoft Store, shining a spotlight on the ever-popular PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate services.

The company’s aim? To make subscribing to these gaming gems a seamless and enjoyable experience for Windows 11 PC owners, all within the comfort of the Microsoft Store.

Windows Insiders get exclusive access to the Game Pass section in the Microsoft Store

In a recent blog post, Microsoft detailed the exciting features of this newly minted Game Pass page in the Microsoft Store. It’s a space designed to help users explore and subscribe to PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate effortlessly. But that’s not all; this dedicated page brings with it a host of Game Pass benefits that are bound to thrill gamers.

(Credit)

Discover the benefits: The revamped Game Pass page is your gateway to discovering the incredible perks that come with a Game Pass subscription. From exclusive games to enticing deals, free perks, and even access to EA Play, this page promises a treasure trove of gaming wonders. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just getting started, it’s now easier than ever to dive into your next favorite game.

Seamless access: Microsoft’s motive is crystal clear – they want Windows 11 PC owners to access Game Pass services with the utmost ease. No need to navigate to external websites; the Game Pass page brings these gaming experiences right to your fingertips.

What does Game Pass offer?

For those who crave variety and value, there are two Game Pass options to choose from:

  • PC Game Pass ($9.99 per month):
    • Play hundreds of high-quality games on your PC.
    • Enjoy a constantly expanding library with new games added regularly.
    • Get access to Xbox Game Studios titles on the same day as their release.
    • Exclusive member discounts and deals.
    • Unlock Riot Games benefits.
    • Includes EA Play, bringing even more gaming options to your doorstep.
  • Game Pass Ultimate ($16.99 per month):
    • Play hundreds of high-quality games across console, PC, and the cloud.
    • New games are added consistently to keep the excitement alive.
    • Enjoy Xbox Game Studios titles on the same day as their release.
    • Exclusive member discounts and deals.
    • Revel in free perks, including in-game content and partner offers.
    • Unlock Riot Games benefits for an enhanced gaming experience.
    • Includes EA Play for an even more extensive game library.
    • Comes with Xbox Gold, ensuring you can join the console multiplayer fun, and access Deals for Gold.

For detailed information about Xbox Game Pass, click here.

(Credit)

What’s next?

This exciting addition to the Windows Store is sure to please gamers of all kinds. While it’s currently exclusive to Windows Insiders, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes available to all Windows 11 PC owners. The gaming world just got a little more accessible, a little more exciting, and a lot more fun.

Conclusion: Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing the gaming experience for its users shines brightly through the Game Pass section in the Microsoft Store. For Windows Insiders, this is a special treat, and for all Windows 11 PC owners, it’s an exciting glimpse into the future of gaming convenience. So, gear up, gamers – the Game Pass adventure awaits, and it’s never been easier to embark on.

We already have a date for Dune: Spice Wars, the most anticipated game after the delay of the movie

The second part of the Dune movie may not be hitting theaters soon, but we will be able to enjoy Dune: Spice Wars much sooner than expected.

The writers’ strike is having many consequences, including the delay of many important films, such as the sequel to the new Dune movie. This is inevitable and right; writers have the right to fair compensation for their work. But that doesn’t take away our itch for more Dune. Fortunately, the video game industry has us covered on that front.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Funcom has announced the release date for Dune: Spice Wars. Created by Shiro Games, this is a 4X strategy game that draws from Frank Herbert’s novels to create its own version of the universe, faithful but flexible enough to craft its own version of events. The game was released in early access in April 2022 and will be officially released on September 14th, 2023, on PC.

For those who may not know, a 4X strategy game is an empire-building strategy game in the style of Civilization or Hearts of Iron. The abbreviation 4X stands for explore, expand, exploit, exterminate; these games involve turn-based, board game-like gameplay where you carefully manage resources and terrain to expand your influence across space and time, ultimately dominating the entire scenario.

These are demanding but very rewarding games that will delight fans of board games, especially those who enjoy games with greater complexity in their rules.

Dune: Spice Wars has received significant updates since its early access release, growing exponentially since then. With six playable factions, spectacular aesthetics, and our tips on everything you need to know about Dune: Spice Wars, you have little excuse when it comes out on September 14th, both on PC and Game Pass.

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.

Game Pass Gamers’ Dream: When Will Call of Duty Be Added to the Free-to-Play Lineup?

Microsoft is going to buy Activision Blizzard and nothing is going to stop them this time after winning the lawsuit against the American FTC. Now we wonder how much they will…

Now that Microsoft is on the verge of closing its acquisition deal with Activision, it’s only natural that Xbox fans are wondering when they will be able to play Call of Duty through Xbox Game Pass, paying only the monthly subscription fee instead of purchasing the game each year.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Call of Duty is one of the biggest franchises in the entertainment industry, and soon Xbox will have full ownership of it, along with other major franchises (such as Overwatch, Diablo, World of Warcraft, etc.) in the industry.

Microsoft made a $70 billion offer to acquire Activision last year and has gone through multiple legal rounds to finalize the deal. One of the major hurdles was a lawsuit from the FTC, which ruled in favor of Microsoft last week.

Xbox has already promised to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation and other platforms, so that fans can continue enjoying the series without interruptions.

Xbox also has no plans to create platform-exclusive content, but it does have an advantage in one aspect: Xbox Game Pass. The service allows players to access hundreds of games at no additional cost, and all Xbox first-party games are available on Game Pass from day one.

When is Call of Duty coming to Game Pass?

At the moment, Call of Duty is not available on Xbox Game Pass, but fans may expect it in the not-too-distant future. The agreement with Activision has not been finalized yet, but once it is, Activision games should arrive on Game Pass at their discretion.

They likely want to add them as soon as possible, but it may not happen until late July or sometime in August, once the company reaches an agreement with the UK’s CMA (Competition and Markets Authority).

As for new Call of Duty games, the situation is different. Sony has an agreement with Call of Duty that lasts until the end of 2024, which means we won’t have a new Call of Duty game on Xbox Game Pass day one until 2025. We’ll have to wait.

Xbox Game Pass DOWNLOAD

Some of the links added in the article are part of affiliate campaigns and may represent benefits for Softonic.

April games for Xbox Live Gold: a chance for redemption or more disappointment?

What Happened to Xbox Live Gold Free Games? Remember when they were absolute wonders that had us hooked on the console?

Microsoft, sit down, we need to talk. What happened to the free Xbox Live Gold games? Remember when they were absolute wonders that had us hooked to the console? Okay with Game Pass you’ve done a lot already, but this is a full-blown let die. If last month we had among us ‘Truberbrook’, ‘Sudden Strike Complete Collection’ and ‘Lamentum’ (which will continue until April 15), this one has been pure sloppiness. Let’s take a look – be careful, don’t get your fill!

‘Out of space: Couch edition’

A multiplayer game in which you will have to clean a ship of green snot and drive out the aliens that have invaded you. A more or less original party (reminiscent of other recent proposals) in which you will have to balance the cleaning of the rooms, pay attention to your vital needs and go improving and unlocking new objects. It may not be the best known game of the decade, but every pack needs a surprise to discover, right?

‘Peaky Blinders: Mastermind’

And that’s it. This is the second (and last) Xbox Live Gold game this month, a prequel to ‘Peaky Blinders’. Puzzles, adventures and plans that must go perfectly. If you like the series, so will the video game, even if it’s to control each member of the Shelby family in increasing difficulty. Ah! And you will also have the ability to control the time to go backwards, forwards or start over until the plan is greased to perfection. A very grateful mechanic.

Xbox DOWNLOAD

The way things are: Games with Gold needs a revolution or die while it still has a shred of dignity left. Out of space’ and ‘Peaky Blinders: Mastermind’ aren’t going to cut it for many gamers, and the anger against Xbox is growing… And rightly so. Will we see a move next month?

Diablo IV and Game Pass: Are Blizzard and Microsoft Teaming Up for Big News?

The problem is not Xbox or Activision Blizzard, who are wanting it, but that each country has to approve the acquisition individually.

We are only two months away from the release of Diablo IV and the hype is growing among gamers… Especially because it is increasingly likely to be released on Xbox One Game Pass and Xbox S and X Series. But before you gloat and start picking your class and preparing your strategy against Lilith, keep in mind that it’s not entirely clear. And the problem is not Xbox’s or Activision Blizzard’s, who are looking forward to it, but that each country has to approve the acquisition individually.

Nihon ga saisho ni yatta!

On October 7, 2022, Brazil was the first relevant country in the industry to approve the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which would make Microsoft the third largest video game company in the world. However, it was a somewhat pyrrhic victory: it was already known that it was not going to be a slam dunk. In fact, Sony president Jim Ryan traveled to several countries to explain that the move would be unfair to PlayStation gamers.

Diablo IV DOWNLOAD

However, it hasn’t quite worked out for him, because now it is Japan that, after Serbia, Chile and Saudi Arabia, has given the go-ahead to spend $69 billion to acquire Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and the Diablo saga, among many others. The Japanese Fair Trade Federation has concluded that strengthening the deal would not noticeably restrict competition in the industry.

It is also true that Xbox accounts for a ridiculous percentage of the market there, so if anything it would encourage a little more competition there. However, the most important body remains that of the United States, whose laws are different from Japan’s but surprisingly similar to Japan’s in this area. The Commerce Commission has already sued Microsoft trying to stop the agreement with Activision Blizzard, but everything seems to indicate that it will come to nothing, giving even more power to the “Yes”.

In fact, analysts believe that by mid-2023 they could have a free hand. And then a new video game giant will be born. How will Sony react? Will Nintendo care at all? We will find out in the next few years, which promise to be exciting. With or without Call of Duty on Xbox.

Get the Most From Game Pass and Prepare for Incoming Activision Games

Microsoft purchasing Activision came as a huge surprise to gamers, industry members, and business people alike. After all, the two companies represent a huge market share on top of enormous respective catalogs of games. The $68.7 billion USD deal is all cash and has some people wondering how Microsoft can get away with this regarding anti-trust laws.

Tencent, Sony, and other companies are still bigger than they will be even with Activision under their belt. But the PC giant purchased storied studio Bethesda recently, announcing that their next release, Starfield, will be an Xbox exclusive.

Of course, that doesn’t mean much for people who have Windows PCs thanks to Xbox Game Pass. With Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s Head of Gaming, making promises, what can Game Pass users expect out of the Activision deal?

How does Game Pass work?

Before we dive in, let’s have a quick refresher on how Game Pass works and what it offers for those who might be unfamiliar with it.

From streaming services to shipping services and even car companies, many are moving toward subscription modalities. While the user may not own an item, they will have access to far more and may even gain perks along the way.

In this vein, the Xbox Game Pass service provides access to more than 100 games, EA Play, and Xbox Live Gold for multiple devices using the cloud. At $14.99 a month, that’s a ton of games for the average user. What’s more: it spans a huge amount of companies and studios. For instance, you could play a Mass Effect then pick up the latest Yakuza title, switch to Halo Infinite for a while, and then play a fun indie game like Hades.

Better still is that purchasing a title on Xbox allows users to play the games on PC, as well via Game Pass.

image of Activision titles like Diablo, StarCraft, and Hearthstone

How Activision games fit in on Game Pass

Blizzard is known for its heavy-hitting franchises like World of Warcraft, Diablo, StarCraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more. While you can play MMOs on Xbox and PC, Microsoft doesn’t have true MMO experience under its umbrella.

All the same, Microsoft does have tons of experience with handling many server calls as you would need for managing multiple massive always-online titles. With Diablo 4 still in development, Microsoft also stands to influence how the game will come out, as well.

While future development of titles in other franchises remains opaque, it’s a sure bet to see Microsoft maintain service for current Blizzard/Activision titles. Current subscribers can maintain their service or postpone it until Microsoft ports over the Activision/Blizzard titles. Those on the fence about purchasing the service can take a look at the titles to see if it sways them or not.

image of a Call of Duty soldier giving a thumbs up in a warzone

Game Pass will protect Call of Duty on PlayStation

Though many people love Blizzard titles like Spyro or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, many more gamers actively and often play Call of Duty. Since the franchise had already committed to releasing three more titles on the Sony PlayStation, Microsoft intends to uphold this deal, according to Bloomberg.

For now, Game Pass won’t afford any additional perks (that we know of) regarding Call of Duty games. Some sites have theorized that collaborating could prompt bringing Game Pass to Switch and even PS5. The likelihood of this move is entirely suspect right now.

image from Guitar Hero 2

Prepare for resurrecting older Activision titles

It’s common knowledge that Phil Spencer and other Xbox Studios members want to bring back classic Activision and Blizzard franchises. Of note are Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, and Skylanders, but the gigantic company also houses many other popular and profitable games such as:

  • Candy Crush series
  • King’s Quest
  • Heroes of the Storm
  • Geometry Wars
  • Caesar
  • Deadpool
  • Singularity
  • Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
  • Prototype

Though Game Pass holders should not expect to see these titles pop up right away, it is possible that Microsoft will pursue them down the road.

Game Pass games including Rainbow Six Siege and It Takes Two

Number one step: find out what you want to play

As with anything, finding out what you want is the most important step to prepare for Activision games coming to Game Pass. If you’re an avid Overwatch player, the ~$15 USD per month fee makes sense as it not only gets you access to that game but a bunch of other new releases, too.

For Hearthstone fanatics, it might not make as much sense. After all, Hearthstone is free to play unless you purchase card packs, cosmetics, or expansions.

The bottom line is that Game Pass already had a ton to offer for that monthly fee. With Microsoft’s purchase of Activision/Blizzard, their supremacy in the games-as-a-service and subscription space is even more assured.