Xbox Game Pass Adds Classics and New Releases Today

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 lineup. The inclusion of these games, released nearly 27 years apart, showcases the diverse gaming experiences offered by the subscription service.

Diablo, a seminal hack-and-slash RPG, needs no introduction. Its 1996 release redefined the genre. Conversely, EA Sports UFC 5, the latest installment in the popular MMA fighting franchise, launched in October 2023.

While Microsoft prioritizes multi-platform titles, these additions are exceptions. Diablo is PC-exclusive, while EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Cloud Gaming provides an alternative for Ultimate subscribers with sufficient internet speeds.

Activision Blizzard Games on Xbox Game Pass

With Diablo's arrival, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles (counting Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This represents a steady addition rate of almost one new title per month since Microsoft's acquisition in late 2023, indicating an accelerating influx of Activision Blizzard games onto the platform.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Additions

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo complete January 2025's Wave 1. Wave 2 is anticipated soon, potentially on January 21, aligning with Microsoft's usual Tuesday announcements.

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

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