Xbox Game Passhas been a great deal in the gaming world for years, offering a huge library of games, sometimes even day-one releases, for a monthly subscription. While a 2024 price bump set up a new hurdle, it stayed strong with plenty of the year’s biggest releases despite lacking some important titles and exclusives likeFF7 Rebirth. The service makes it easy to try new games without spending extra money, which has helped it remain relevant.
However, 2025 is shaping up to be different. While Game Pass will still offer plenty of great games, the ones not coming to the service could have a bigger impact this year. Some of the most anticipated releases will only be available on other platforms, and there may be fewer major third-party games launching on Game Pass right away. This doesn’t mean Game Pass is in trouble, but as competitors roll out some big exclusives and titles that aren’t likely to come to the service, Game Pass may not be the center of attention.
2025’s Biggest Exclusives Won’t Be On Xbox Game Pass
Game Pass Will Be Missing Some Exciting Games This Year
Nintendo’s new console, the Switch 2,is set to release major first-party games in 2025.Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonmentadds a new story to the Zelda series, andMario Kart Worldis expected to be a huge hit. There’s alsoDonkey Kong Bananza, releasing on July 17, a month after the console’s release. Since Nintendo keeps its games exclusive to its own systems, Xbox players won’t have access to these titles.
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Finally, there’sGrand Theft Auto 6, which is primed to be the biggest release of the year by a significant margin. Unlike the other games,GTA 6isn’t exclusive to PlayStation or Nintendo, but it’s very unlikely to launch on Game Pass. Rockstar’s games sell millions of copies, so there’s no reason for them to put it on a subscription service right away. With so many huge games skipping Game Pass, Microsoft will need to focus on its own exclusives and third-party deals to keep players excited in 2025.
Despite Competition, Xbox Game Pass Has A Strong Line-Up
There Will Still Be Worthwhile Games Available On Game Pass
Thankfully, Game Pass still has a strong lineup going into 2025.Avowed’s day-one release in February was already one major victory, and late 2024 additions likeSTALKER 2andIndiana Jones and the Great Circlestill provide plenty of value to the service. Classic games likeFallout: New Vegasare also available, giving players a mix of new and old favorites.
Game Pass games are always changing. New ones are added and old ones are cycled out, so make sure to play the ones you really want before they’re gone.
More exciting games are coming soon, too. April alone has someexciting titles coming to Game Pass.South of Midnightlaunches on April 8, followed byDescenders NextandCommandos: Originson April 9.Blue Princearrives on April 10,Tempopoon April 17, andClair Obscur: Expedition 33on April 24. Each game brings something different, from action-packed adventures to strategy and puzzle-solving.
May continues the excitement withRevenge of the Savage Planeton May 8 andDoom: The Dark Ageson May 15, delivering intense action.To a Tfollows on May 28 with a unique story-driven experience. Then in July,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4arrives on July 11, bringing classic skateboarding fun. Whilenone of these games are slated to be the nextMario KartorGTA 6, the overall combination of titles could easily make the service worth keeping.
2025 Still Features A Lot Of Unknowns
Some Games Have No Release Date For Game Pass
Even though 2025 has a lot of big games coming out, there are still many things we don’t know yet. Some games have been announced for Xbox Game Pass but don’t have exact release dates,and there’s always a chance that more games could be added later.At the same time, other platforms like PlayStation and Nintendo may still reveal new exclusives, making the competition even tougher.
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Several games are confirmed to be coming to Game Pass this year, but we don’t know when. Some of the bigger ones includeNINJA GAIDEN 4, expected in fall 2025, andThe Outer Worlds 2, the sequel to another popular RPG fromAvowedandFallout: New Vegasdeveloper Obsidian. Other games likeSubnautica 2, The Alters,andREPLACEDare also on the way, but their exact arrival is still a mystery. There are also smaller but interesting games likeWinter Burrow, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo,andTanuki Pon’s Summer, which should arrive later in the year.
Of course, Game Pass isn’t the only platform with surprises.PlayStation and Nintendo still have games they haven’t announced yet, and it’s possible that some unexpected exclusives will shake things up. Game Pass could also add more games that weren’t originally planned, either through surprise deals or partnerships.
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Even with all this uncertainty,Xbox Game Pass still has a lot to offer. Games likeFBC: Firebreak, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, andMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vaultwill be joining the service at some point this year. There’s alsoSleight of HandandWheel World, which could become favorites once they arrive. Plus, it’s rumored thatGame Pass will soon addDragon Age: The Veilguard, too.
And that’s just covering games coming in 2025. 2026 has its own impressive lineup, with titles likeFableandHollow Knight: Silksong.Other games like thePerfect Darkreboot still lack release windows, but should be coming in the foreseeable future. As 2025 continues, more details will be revealed, and the service will likely grow even more. All the same,Xbox Game Passmay have more of an uphill battle to look like an obvious subscription choice in the face of 2025’s massive titles that won’t be coming to the service.
