Xbox Game Pass Features
Soapbox The Best Modern Tomb Raider Is Well Worth Your Time On Xbox Game Pass
The island of Yamatai awaits
May 2024's very first Xbox Game Pass update has brought Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition to the service more than 10 years after it launched on Xbox One, however, don't let the game's age put you off trying it out. This Tomb Raider reboot may have originated as an Xbox 360 game way back in 2013, but it's easily the best...
Talking Point Two Years Later, Did LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Live Up To The Hype?
Was it the greatest LEGO game of all time?
This month marks two years since LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga finally arrived after years and years' worth of anticipation, with many fans back then expecting it to become the biggest and best LEGO game of all time. Now, as we look back in 2024, it definitely feels like the "biggest" to us. The...
Poll What Do You Think Of Harold Halibut On Xbox So Far?
The most recent "day one" Game Pass release
It's been almost a week now since Harold Halibut made its debut on Xbox Game Pass back on April 16th, and ahead of release we were extremely intrigued by what this unique stop-motion adventure had to offer. Here at Pure Xbox, we ended up giving Harold Halibut a "Great"
Talking Point Which Classic COD Would You Play First On Xbox Game Pass?
It's rumoured Xbox is 'gearing up' for an announcement
So, all of a sudden we're starting to see lots of rumours about Xbox's upcoming 2024 summer showcase - including a potential ActiBlizz back catalogue announcement of some sort. This announcement could include Call of Duty in some fashion (we've still not seen any of those titles appear on
Poll How Are You Getting On With Evil West On Xbox Game Pass?
Has it hooked so you far?
March was truly a fantastic month for Xbox Game Pass additions, and as you told us in our recent poll, Evil West was your second favourite new XGP title during that time period - only surpassed by the behemoth that is Diablo IV. We also mentioned ahead of its arri
Feature Which Activision Blizzard Game Do You Want Next On Xbox Game Pass?
COD? Crash? Another Diablo?!
Last week saw the arrival of Diablo 4 on Xbox Game Pass, and not only was that a big deal because it's one of the highest-rated games of the past year, but it also marked the very first Activision Blizzard game to hit the service. Microsoft has already confirmed that we'll be seeing more Activision Blizzard games on...
Poll What Are Your First Impressions Of Diablo 4 On Xbox Game Pass?
The first Activision Blizzard addition
A few days ago, we asked for your favourite Xbox Game Pass addition in March 2024, and even though it was up against some strong competition such as Evil West and Control Ultimate Edition, Diablo 4 still came out on top. Of course, this w
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In March 2024?
It's been a busy old month!
What a month it's been for Xbox Game Pass in March 2024! We finished things off with a fantastic trio of titles earlier this week (including Diablo 4), and before that we were also treated to a wide array of indie and AAA highlights. The month kicked off with the superb Warhammer
Poll How Excited Are You For Diablo 4 On Xbox Game Pass?
The first ActiBlizz title to hit the service
It's been a fun month for Xbox Game Pass in March, and we're definitely not done yet! In addition to the day one arrivals of MLB The Show 24 and Lightyear Frontier tomorrow, we've got more on the way including Blizzard's Diablo 4. This is particularl
Talking Point Do You Make Use Of Cloud Gaming On Xbox Game Pass?
Or is the tech not there yet?
Earlier today, Digital Foundry shared an interesting video regarding cloud gaming - testing out the feature on both Xbox and PlayStation to see how the two offerings compare. While the tech is undoubtedly impressive, what the analysis confirmed to us is that cloud gaming still needs plenty of work. Our usage of Xbox...
Poll What Do You Think Of Dead Island 2 On Xbox Game Pass?
This week's surprise XGP release
It's been a good week for Xbox Game Pass with five games added to the service, and one of them was a total surprise in the form of Dead Island 2! The game wasn't announced ahead of time, but landed on XGP this past Thursday. So, we know it's early days, but we're interested to hear how you've been getting on with...
Talking Point Would You Be Interested In A New 'Multi-Subscription' Tier On Xbox?
Ubisoft Plus is becoming more appealing each month
A couple of weeks ago we asked you fine folks about EA Play - more specifically about how important it was for you as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perk. The majority of Pure Xbox readers made it known that EA's subscription service was rather important, and that EA Play titles are regularly engaged...
Reaction Xbox's Commitment To Console Gaming Is Pleasing, But Big Questions Linger
Will we see a gradual change from Team Green?
The dust is beginning to settle on Xbox's big business event from yesterday, and in general we're feeling quite relieved that the initial drama is over. Xbox is clearly sticking around, especially when it comes to creating consoles and building towards another healthy generation in gaming. However, major...
Interview PlateUp! Dev Talks About 'The Benefits' Of Being Included In Xbox Game Pass
"Game Pass seemed the natural fit - and thankfully Microsoft agreed"
This week marks PlateUp!'s console release after months of 'Overwhelmingly Positive' feedback on PC platform Steam, and the title is coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one. With those hugely positive ratings in mind, we sat down with the team behind this cooking-sim roguelite to see...
Feature Capcom Is Bringing An Action-Oriented Resident Evil Experience To Xbox Game Pass This Month
Collect your STARS
Today's Xbox Game Pass update brought news that another Resident Evil title is coming to the library in the form of Resident Evil 3 - and this one is for the action fans out there. While January's addition of Resident Evil 2 presented Capcom's m
Talking Point Are You Still Playing Forza Motorsport On Xbox Game Pass?
Nürburgring Nordschleife is tempting us back
We were fairly impressed with Forza Motorsport when it launched on Xbox Series X|S late last year as a big-old reboot for the Forza franchise. Sure, it didn't quite feel feature-complete, and we were missing some key courses, but the racing felt fantastic and it seemed like another solid addition to Xbox...
Talking Point How Important Is EA Play To You On Xbox Game Pass?
Would you be sad if it went away?
Believe it or not, it's now been over three years since EA Play was added to Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate (and later PC) members. The partnership was announced alongside the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in November 2020, and since then we've seen some truly amazing EA titles join the Game Pass...
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In January 2024?
AC Valhalla? Palworld? Resident Evil 2? Tell us!
Well, what a crazy month January 2024 ended up being for Xbox Game Pass! As we came into the new year, it looked like it'd be a quiet few weeks for the service, but it ended up being bigger than we ever could have expected. The main reason for that was the launch of Palworld on January 19th, which...
Feature Hellblade 2 Brings True 'Cinematic Immersion' To Xbox This May, And We're Hyped For It
A proper Xbox blockbuster launches in just a few months
This year's Xbox Developer Direct delivered big - with huge deep dives for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed and Ara: History Untold. However, only one of the show's titles feels like it's truly within touching distance, and that's Ninja Theory's Hellbl
Poll What Do You Think Of Palworld On Xbox Game Pass So Far?
It's absolutely exploded in popularity
When we look back at the list of January 2024 Xbox Game Pass additions, Palworld will probably be the title that stands out the most - and that's pretty crazy considering this month has given us Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Resi Evil 2! This new '
Feature Hands On With Palworld: The New 'Pokémon-Like' For Xbox Game Pass
"Mom, why does Pikachu have a gun?"
The following is a slightly altered transcript of our Palworld preview on the Pure Xbox YouTube channel. You can watch the full video up above, complete with a bunch of gameplay footage that we captured during our early access hands-on! This new 'gotcha' game has drawn comparisons to the likes of Pokémon which...
Talking Point Do You Like The 'Modern' Assassin's Creed Games?
Another one hits Game Pass next week
With 2017's Assassin's Creed Origins, Ubisoft went a different direction with its famous action adventure series. In fact, it basically became an RPG at that stage - and another of those Assassin's Creed RPGs is about to hit Xbox Game Pass. Yep, Assassin's Creed Valhalla comes to the Game Pass library on January...
Hitting the open road
Naturally, our 2024 Xbox Game Pass lineup is a bit all over the place right now. We have quite a few games coming to the service next year already, but lots are carried over from 2023 and don't have specific release dates just yet. However, one title that does have a confirmed date is indie adventure Open Roads - and it's...
Poll What Were The Best Xbox Game Pass Additions In 2023?
It's been another hectic year!
Once again, it's been absolutely stacked year for Xbox Game Pass in 2023! We've seen so many games come to the service over the past 12 months, including some massive first-party titles along with the usual slate of third-party gems. Some of this really does blend into the Game of the Year discussion as well, as we've...
Poll What Is Your Xbox Game Of The Year For 2023?
Get your votes in!
It's that time of year again! We're looking to crown a Pure Xbox Game of the Year for 2023, and in order to do that, we're going to need you to vote for the best Xbox games of the past 12 months — only the top ten will make the final cut! Last year's winner ended up being the outstanding Elden Ring, followed by A Plague Tale:...
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In November 2023?
Remnant 2? Like a Dragon Gaiden? Tell us!
Another successful month of Xbox Game Pass is now behind us - with Microsoft delivering one final surprise on the last day of November when it added two Remnant titles to the library. All in all, it ended up being a pretty stacked month for Xbox Game Pass, and D
Poll Which Call Of Duty Title Will You Be Most Excited To Play On Xbox Game Pass?
Microsoft is working on bringing them over
Eventually, lots of Call of Duty games will head to the Xbox Game Pass library thanks to Microsoft's mammoth Activision Blizzard deal. The team is still working behind the scenes to get CoD on Game Pass, but it'll happen eventually once everything is worked out by Xbox, Activision and al
Interview Spirittea Publisher On Why Xbox Game Pass 'Very Much Works For Us'
"We're really enjoying subscription services"
Today marks the arrival of Spirittea as part of the Xbox Game Pass November 2023 lineup, taking the form of a rural-life RPG in which restless spirits have overrun a cosy mountainous town - and it's your job to fix their issues. "This is- well... used to be a nice town, but there have been some strange...
Video An Introduction To 'Persona 5 Tactica' Ahead Of Its Xbox Game Pass Launch
Here are 15 things to know about the upcoming Persona title!
Persona 5 Tactica has been one of our most anticipated Xbox Game Pass titles for ages - Atlus's upcoming spinoff heads to the library on November 17th, 2023. Ahead of that day one Game Pass launch, we've been hands-on with the new JPRG - and have come away with 15 neat details to tell you...
Poll What Do You Think Of Warhammer 40K: Darktide On Xbox Game Pass?
Did it live up to the hype?
Last month was stacked for Xbox Game Pass, with the likes of Forza Motorsport and Dead Space stealing the spotlight in terms of the big hitters, but another game that also arrived on Xbox Series X|S was Warhammer 40K: Darktide. This is a release that had been hyped up
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In October 2023?
Forza Motorsport? Dead Space? Tell us!
Well, another month of Xbox Game Pass is done and dusted! November is already looking excellent, but we thought we'd take one last opportunity to glance back at a very busy October 2023 for Microsoft's excellent subscription service. The big highlight of October was the first-party release of Forza Motorsport,...
Soapbox 10-Year Old FPS Remains One Of The Best On Xbox Game Pass
The servers are populated, too!
Rarely does a video game stay in my regular rotation as often as this one, so I thought I'd take some time today to remember its anniversary. Even long-tail multiplayer offerings that are supported for ages typically lose my attention after a couple of years, but there's something about DICE's debut Xbox One title...
Talking Point Which Activision Blizzard Series Do You Want To Play Most On Xbox Game Pass?
Come tell us what you're excited to play
Okay, so, the big Activision Blizzard deal is officially happening - and we're already starting to get giddy about the future of Xbox Game Pass with them on board. Sure, we know that some of the team's newer titles like Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In September 2023?
If it was Starfield, what else did you enjoy?
It's time for another round of Pick One! As we enter the weekend, we're taking a look back at a huge month for Xbox Game Pass in September 2023, which included one of the biggest Xbox first-party releases of all time in Starfield! That was definitely not the only highlight either, as the month also...
Talking Point What Do You Think Of Cocoon So Far On Xbox Game Pass?
Does it deserve its 89 Metacritic score?
Last Friday treated us to a fantastic finale for September on Xbox Game Pass in the form of Cocoon, which racked up one of the best Metacritic ratings we've seen for an indie game in 2023 - finishing the week with a score of 89. There were some really impressive reviews doing the rounds that led to this,...
Guide Best FPS Games On Xbox Game Pass
Rip and Tear
What are the very best FPS games on Xbox Game Pass? The FPS genre has long been a firm favourite amongst gamers, providing absorbing and action-packed experiences that draw the player into intense scenarios jam-packed full of kinetic battles, alongside some of the most cinematic storylines in all of gaming. Shooting stuff in video...
Guide Best RPGs on Xbox Game Pass
The very best RPGs currently available on Microsoft's subscription service
What are the best RPGs on Xbox Game Pass? We love a good RPG here at Pure Xbox and, thankfully, Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is absolutely stuffed to bursting point with great examples of this most enticing of genres. Whether you're in the mood for an historical epic, unique...
Feature 10 Games We Can't Wait To Play On Xbox Game Pass In 2024
It's already looking stacked!
Xbox Game Pass has enjoyed another phenomenal year in 2023, and we're still not done yet! October and November are shaping up extremely well, and hopefully December will have some fun surprises for us too. After that, we're into 2024 - and although there's still a lot to be announced for next year, we're already...
Poll Have This Week's Xbox Game Pass Releases Lived Up To The Hype?
Which of these have you enjoyed the most so far?
This week has seen some huge titles arrive day one on Xbox Game Pass, following an impressive start to the month with the launch of Starfield. Lies of P kicked things off at the beginning of the week, before Party Animals and Payday 3 rounded out a jam-packed few days for the service. And
Hands On Payday 3 - A Performant Yet Familiar Co-Op FPS Hits Xbox Game Pass
Put your hands behind your head
Ahead of today's broader Xbox Game Pass launch, we've been playing some Payday 3 in early access - sneaking, robbing and shooting our way through a variety of heisty scenarios on Xbox Series X. Our time with the game so far has been spent with bots and random online players, and while partnering up with some real life...
Talking Point What Are Your Thoughts On 'Lies Of P' So Far?
The latest soulslike to hit Xbox Game Pass!
The launch of Lies of P marks yet another soulslike addition to Xbox Game Pass, and thankfully, most of the service's soulsy offerings have been pretty good so far! As for Neowiz's Victorian take on the genre, we rated the game pretty highly in our full written review, which you can check out down below:...
Talking Point It's A Big Week For Xbox Game Pass! What Are You Most Excited For?
They're all highly-anticipated releases
We mentioned it over the weekend, and we're going to mention it again - it's a big week for Xbox Game Pass! We've got three highly-anticipated titles arriving on the service (at launch) over the next few days, and they're all very different. Firstly, there's the tough-as-nails soulslike Lies of P arriving...
Poll Are You Enjoying 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre' On Xbox Game Pass?
How's your experience been on weekend one?
The team behind last week's Xbox Game Pass title The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has announced that over one million players have already experienced the terror of the Sawyer family in video game form. That's a healthy amount of horrors for one 24-hour period, and we want to know if you were one of the players...
Talking Point What's Your Favourite Horror Movie Adaptation On Xbox?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will soon join the ranks
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre marks one of August 2023's biggest Xbox Game Pass drops, and its imminent arrival has us thinking back to all of the horror movie adaptations that have graced Xbox over the years. While the ever-present Dead By Daylight incorporates tons of classic horror icons into...
Feature These Two New Game Pass Indies Are Short, Sweet, And Well Worth A Play
Both arrived on Game Pass this past week!
Xbox Game Pass has treated us to a nice selection of titles over the last few weeks, with more to come later this month such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Sea of Stars, before a bumper September for the service. Here though, we want to highlight two short but sweet Game Pass additions that have...
Talking Point We're Officially Four Weeks Away From The Early Access Launch Of Starfield
The wait is almost over
We actually can't believe it! Bethesda's huge open world RPG Starfield is just four weeks out from its early access launch - and base game players haven't got long to wait either. Yep, Starfield early access drops four weeks today on September 1st, before the broad Game Pass launch arrives on September 6th. So... have you...
Poll Xbox Live Gold Members, Are You Excited For Game Pass Core?
The switchover happens in September
This week has been dominated by the news that Xbox Live Gold will be ending this September in favour of a new tier of Xbox Game Pass called "Game Pass Core", and all Gold subscribers will transition to the new tier on September 14th. A lot of things will stay the same following the transition — Game Pass Core...
Poll What Do You Think Of 'Exoprimal' On Xbox Game Pass?
How are you getting on with it so far?
Exoprimal has been July's marquee Xbox Game Pass addition so far, with Capcom launching its brand-new IP straight into the service this month. The reception seems to have been mixed since the game's arrival last Friday, but we want to know how you've been finding this new Game Pass title so far. So far, the...
Poll Are You Buying The 'Early Access Upgrade' For Starfield?
It'll work nicely with a Game Pass sub!
Things have been a little quiet on the Starfield front since everything that happened in the wake of the Xbox Games Showcase last month, but we still want to know how you'll be tackling the game at launch, especially now that you've had a few weeks to sit on all of June's sweet, sweet information. In and...
Reaction Game Pass Core Marks The End Of Xbox's Most Influential Product
Live no more
Today is a pretty big day in the history of Xbox, folks. While the announcement of Xbox Game Pass Core in itself doesn't seem like a monumental move, the realisation that Xbox Live Gold will basically be gone in two months is starting hit us like a well-placed plasma grenade in a packed matchup of Halo 2. That's right, when the...
