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Two Decades of Gaming: Xbox Game Pass Expands Today

by Sadie Feb 23,2025

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Welcomes EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now play EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo, marking the conclusion of Wave 1's January 2025 additions. These two titles, released nearly 27 years apart, represent a diverse range of gaming experiences.

Diablo, the seminal hack-and-slash RPG, needs little introduction. UFC 5, the latest installment in EA Sports' MMA franchise, launched in October 2023. Their inclusion expands the XGP library significantly.

While Microsoft aims for cross-platform availability, Diablo is PC-exclusive, and EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Cloud Gaming allows Ultimate subscribers with sufficient internet speeds to stream UFC 5.

Activision Blizzard Titles on Xbox Game Pass

With Diablo's addition, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles (counting Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This reflects a steady influx of Activision Blizzard games since Microsoft's acquisition, averaging nearly one per month. More titles are expected.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games: A Sneak Peek

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	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 complete January 2025's Wave 1. Wave 2 announcements are anticipated soon, potentially on January 21, aligning with Microsoft's typical Tuesday release announcements.

Further announcements are expected before the January 23 Xbox Developer Direct, which will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages – all confirmed day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles slated for 2025. Note that six games will leave Xbox Game Pass on January 15, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon $17 at Xbox