Xbox Game Pass Welcomes Two Games Spanning Decades

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.

Starting today, January 14th, members can dive into the action-packed world of EA Sports UFC 5, the latest installment in EA's popular MMA franchise, and experience the classic dungeon-crawling of the original Diablo, a game that revolutionized the hack-and-slash RPG genre upon its 1996 release. The inclusion of these two games, released nearly 27 years apart, showcases the diverse range of titles offered by Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

While Microsoft prioritizes 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 subscribers with sufficient internet speeds can stream EA Sports UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Activision Blizzard Titles on Xbox Game Pass

With the addition of Diablo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles (considering Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This represents a strong addition rate of nearly one new Activision Blizzard game per month since Microsoft's acquisition. While many more Activision Blizzard games are expected, the current influx indicates an accelerating release schedule.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Additions

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo conclude January 2025's Wave 1. Wave 2 announcements are anticipated soon, potentially on January 21st, aligning with Microsoft's typical Tuesday release announcements.

Further announcements are expected before the January 23rd Xbox Developer Direct, which will feature Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages—all confirmed as day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles launching in 2025. Before the Direct, however, six games will leave the service on January 15th, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

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