"Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Expands with Games 27 Years Apart"

Summary

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is adding EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo today, concluding the XGP Wave 1 lineup for January 2025.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can dive into EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo starting today. These additions mark the third and fourth titles introduced to the service in January 2025.

The iconic Diablo, launched in 1996, revolutionized the hack-and-slash RPG genre. On the other hand, EA Sports UFC 5, released in October 2023, continues the legacy of EA's mixed martial arts series. Despite being released nearly 27 years apart, these games are now united on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, available as of January 14, 2025. While Microsoft usually focuses on multi-platform games, these titles are platform-specific: Diablo is exclusive to PC, and EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, subscribers with robust internet can stream UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Now Offers Over a Dozen Activision Blizzard Titles

With Diablo now accessible on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the service boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles. This includes three games each from the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. Since Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in late 2023, the service has been adding nearly one new title from the company each month. More games from the Activision Blizzard library are expected to join Xbox Game Pass, with an increasing pace of releases.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo mark the end of the first wave of January 2025 additions to Xbox Game Pass. The Wave 2 lineup is expected to be revealed soon, likely on January 21, in line with Microsoft's tradition of announcing new XGP releases on Tuesdays.

More news on upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles may surface before the month ends, especially with an Xbox Developer Direct set for January 23. This event will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, all confirmed as day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles targeting 2025 releases. However, before the Xbox Developer Direct, Xbox Game Pass will see the removal of six games on January 15, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon $17 at Xbox