Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Expands with Two Games Spanning 27 Years

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 the excitement of EA Sports UFC 5 and the classic Diablo starting today, as part of their subscription. These additions mark the third and fourth titles added to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in January 2025.

Diablo, the legendary hack-and-slash RPG that debuted at the end of 1996, needs no introduction. On the other hand, EA Sports UFC 5, launched in October 2023, brings the latest in mixed martial arts gaming to the series.

Despite being released nearly 27 years apart, these games are now united on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, set to be available as of today, January 14. While Microsoft typically focuses on multi-platform games, both additions differ in this regard. Diablo is exclusively accessible on PC, while EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Ultimate subscribers with robust internet can stream UFC 5 through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Now Offers Over a Dozen Activision Blizzard Titles

With Diablo now playable on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the service now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles in total, including Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, each counted as three games. This marks nearly one new Activision Blizzard title per month since Microsoft's acquisition of the company in late 2023. While many more games from the Activision Blizzard catalog are yet to be added, the pace is clearly accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo round out the first wave of January 2025 additions to Xbox Game Pass. The Wave 2 lineup is anticipated to be announced soon, potentially on January 21, given Microsoft's tradition of unveiling new XGP releases on Tuesdays.

Further announcements regarding upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles might come before the month ends, especially with the Xbox Developer Direct scheduled for January 23. Microsoft has confirmed that the event will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages. All are slated for day-one releases on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in 2025, though specific dates are pending. Before the next Xbox Developer Direct, the service will see the departure of six games on January 15, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon$17 at Xbox