Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Updates Library with Time-Spanning Games

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Welcomes EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers gain access to two highly anticipated titles today: EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo. These additions mark the culmination of Wave 1 for January 2025's Game Pass releases, a diverse pairing spanning nearly 27 years of gaming history.

Starting today, jump into the octagon with EA Sports UFC 5, the latest installment in EA's popular MMA franchise, released October 2023. Alternatively, delve into the dungeon-crawling world of the original Diablo, the seminal hack-and-slash RPG that redefined the genre in 1996.

While Microsoft aims for cross-platform availability, these titles present a slight deviation. Diablo is PC-exclusive, while EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with sufficient internet speed can stream UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Activision Blizzard Games on Xbox Game Pass

With Diablo's arrival, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles (considering Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This represents a steady addition rate of almost one new Activision Blizzard game per month since Microsoft's acquisition. While many more Activision Blizzard titles are anticipated, the influx is clearly accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Additions

Here's a preview of the upcoming games joining Xbox Game Pass:

Wave 2 of January's Xbox Game Pass releases is expected soon, potentially on January 21, aligning with Microsoft's typical Tuesday announcements. Further announcements might emerge before the January 23 Xbox Developer Direct, which will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages—all confirmed as 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