Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Expands with Two New Titles

Summary

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate expands its library today, adding EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo. These titles, released 27 years apart, complete Wave 1 of January 2025's additions to the service.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now play EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo as part of their subscription. These are the third and fourth games added to the service this January. Diablo, a seminal hack-and-slash RPG released in late 1996, needs no introduction. EA Sports UFC 5, the latest in EA's MMA fighting game series, launched in October 2023.

These two games, separated by almost 27 years, are now available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, launching later today, January 14th. While Microsoft prioritizes multi-platform games, Diablo is PC-only, and EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with sufficient internet speeds can stream EA Sports UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Now Boasts Over a Dozen Activision Blizzard Titles

With the addition of Diablo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now features 13 Activision Blizzard titles (counting Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy as three games each). This averages nearly one new Activision Blizzard title per month since Microsoft's acquisition in late 2023. While many more Activision Blizzard games await their arrival, the release pace is clearly accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

GameDate AddedGame Pass Tier(s)Platform(s)NotesEA Sports UFC 5Jan 14UltimateCloud, Series X/SDiabloJan 14Ultimate, PCPCEternal StrandsJan 28Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.Sniper Elite: ResistanceJan 30Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward VectorJan 31Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.AvowedFeb 18Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.AtomfallMar 27Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release.Football Manager 25Mar ??Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release; exact release date TBA.Commandos: OriginsMar ??Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release; exact release date TBA.

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo conclude Wave 1 of January 2025's Xbox Game Pass additions. Wave 2 is anticipated soon, possibly January 21st, aligning with Microsoft's usual Tuesday announcements.

Further announcements regarding upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles are expected before month's end, given the January 23rd Xbox Developer Direct. Microsoft confirmed this event will feature Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, all slated as day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles for 2025. Prior to the Developer Direct, six games leave Xbox Game Pass on January 15th, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon $17 at Xbox