Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Expands with Two Games 27 Years Apart

Summary

• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is adding EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo today.
• Released 27 years apart, these two titles conclude the XGP Wave 1 lineup for January 2025.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can dive into EA Sports UFC 5 and the iconic Diablo starting today, as part of their subscription. These games mark the third and fourth additions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for January 2025.

Diablo, the legendary game that pioneered the hack-and-slash RPG genre since its release in late 1996, needs no introduction. On the other hand, EA Sports UFC 5, launched in October 2023, continues to be the latest in the long-standing series of mixed martial arts games by EA Sports.

Despite being released nearly 27 years apart, these titles are now united under Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, set to be available starting January 14. While Microsoft typically aims to provide multi-platform games, these additions are exceptions: Diablo is exclusively available on PC, while EA Sports UFC 5 is playable on Xbox Series X/S locally. Alternatively, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with a robust internet connection can stream EA Sports UFC 5 through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Now Offers Over a Dozen Activision Blizzard Titles

With the inclusion of Diablo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts a total of 13 Activision Blizzard titles. This includes counting Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy as three games each. Since Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in late 2023, the service has been adding nearly one new title per month. Although more games from the Activision Blizzard library are anticipated, the pace of additions is accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo wrap up the first wave of January 2025 additions to Xbox Game Pass. The second wave of January's lineup is expected to be announced soon, possibly on January 21, following Microsoft's tradition of revealing new XGP releases on Tuesdays.

Further announcements regarding upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles may come before the month ends, with an Xbox Developer Direct scheduled for January 23. Microsoft has confirmed that the event will feature Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, all slated for day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate releases in 2025. However, before the next Xbox Developer Direct, Xbox Game Pass will see the departure of six games on January 15, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

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