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Microsoft’s foray into the subscription service market withXbox Game Passhas been a massive success. Fans all across the globe have been appreciative of the efforts Microsoft is making with the service, as the platform makes many games accessible to a much larger demographic than before. It’s fair to say thatXbox Game Passended 2021 on a high, with not one but two smash-hit titles debuting on the service.
343 Industries’Halo Infinitegave countless newcomers a chance to experience Master Chief’s adventures across Zeta Halo without having to pay the full retail price. Playground Games’Forza Horizon 5accumulated millions of players in just a couple of days following its launch, which can be majorly attributed to the audience the game got through Xbox Game Pass. 2022 is looking to be a similarly fruitful year for fans of the service, and it seems January’s offerings have already set the tone for what to expect.
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Xbox Game Pass: January 2022 In Review
Fans recently got to experience a handful of new and old releases through monthly Game Pass additions, withthe highlight beingMass Effect: Legendary Edition, which is easily one of the best remasters of 2021. There’s also the time-looping space mystery ofOuter Wildsand the brutal-yet-satisfying roguelikeSpelunky 2,among others.
Microsoft has also struck a deal with Ubisoft, which will seeits subscription service Ubisoft+ arriving to the platform(although it wouldn’t be a part of the subscription unlike EA Play). The French publishing giant’s upcoming release,Rainbow Six Extraction, will also now debut on Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC on January 20.
Most recently,IO Interactive announced theHitmantrilogy, which will combine the three games in theWorld of Assassinationtrilogy into one release and is also set to release on January 20. Once again, the games will launch on Xbox Game Pass for both PC and consoles.
Xbox Game Pass In 2022: Setting The Tone Of What’s To Follow
January 2022 has been a fruitful month for Microsoft and has set the ball rolling for what to expect going forward. It seems safe to assume that fans can expect similar surprise additions to the already bursting-in-value subscription service, alongside the healthy dose of first party and third part content that’s already planned to release this year.
Fans already have a ton of promising first party games to look forward to seeing on Xbox Game Pass. These games include but are not limited to Arkane Studios’Redfallandthe highly-acclaimedDeathloopfrom the same developer. The Turn10-developed soft rebootForza Motorsportis also on track to make it in time for release sometime this year. Most importantly, Bethesda’s upcoming space odysseyStarfieldwill also be dropping on its iconic release date of November 11.
That’s all on top of the bursting library of third party exclusives - such as the likes ofGSC Game World’sS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl, the Jumpship-developedSommerville, Ebb Software’sScorn,Shredders, Remedy’sCrossFireX, and so much more. There’s also launch-day inclusions of major multi-platform releases, fromA Plague Tale: Requiemto the Zelda-inspired indie adventureTunicto the black-and-whiteTrek to Yomi.
In conclusion, 2022 looks exciting for Xbox fans as the sophomore year ofthe Xbox Series consoles finally ends the drought of console exclusivesfor the platform. Of course, that’s not the end of the road - but merely the start. Games likeEverwild,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade2, theFablereboot,Avowed, andThe Outer Worlds 2will most likely continue to feedXbox Game Passwith tons of quality content over the coming months and years.
MORE:All the Games Removed from Xbox Game Pass in December 2021
