Moreover, the freshly arrived Microsoft consoles, The Xbox Series X, and the series S have boosted Xbox Game Pass’s sales. If you are one of the lucky ones to have those puppies, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the Game Pass. While the PlayStation may have better launch exclusives, sensible gamers would still prefer the XSX just because of the Xbox Game Pass.
Introduction to the Xbox Game Pass
While gamers who buy each game individually have to decide for each game they want to buy a game at its full price, gamers can pay a minimal subscription fee of $14.99 a month for the ultimate plan or $9.99 a month for the PC or Console only pack. If you alternatively buy one AAA title, that’ll set you back about $25-$45, so clearly, gamers save their kidneys when going for the Xbox Game Pass. Also, seeing that you get to try out any game you want and can have a bigger library on the Xbox Game Pass, I can’t fathom why anyone would buy expensive games anymore. If you have already bought the Game Pass or are planning to (by the way, you should), here are the upcoming games for January 2021. If you want to know about the already included popular games, we are here for your rescue.
Xbox Game Pass: Upcoming Games January 2021
The Ascent
If you are a gamer, you have most likely heard of Cyberpunk 2077(link this). But you might’ve most likely missed on The Ascent as it slipped under the radar. The Ascent is a cyberpunk-themed action role-playing game. It takes place within a future self-contained city just like the Night City from Cyberpunk. You’ll play as a worker enslaved by the company The Ascent Group that controls the city. After the mysterious collapse of The Ascent Group, the city becomes a chaotic mess as all syndicates and rival corporations fight each other for the thirst for power and gain control of what’s left of this city. Your goal will be to bring back peace and stop other factions from gaining control while uncovering the mystery of the company’s demise.
Psychonauts 2
Psychonauts 2 is not your usual game. It takes place in your mind. Inside your brain, the psychic agent Razputin Aquato returns in the sequel to unpack his psychological baggage and expand the compass of his mind. Raz must use his psychic abilities to unravel dark secrets about the Psychonauts team and his own family origins.
Killer Queen Black
It has just been leaked that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play or rather test Killer Queen Black on January 5. This game is an 8-player arcade game and, thankfully, will be cross-platform compatible. Why cross-platform compatibility matter? This is because the game was released in October 2020 on the Switch too as well as PC. However, Microsoft’s platform edition released in 2021 will not be that much different from these two that were previously released.
Halo Infinite: Series of Xbox Game delayed
Halo Infinite, the sixth installment in the flagship game series of Xbox Game Studios. It was initially planned to be released alongside the Xbox Series consoles as exclusives. But the ongoing pandemic has slowed down its development and was then expected to be launched in January 2021. Belonging to Xbox Game Studios meant that it would be included in the Xbox Game Pass from Day 0 in January 2021. Now they have yet again delayed it into August 2021 well in the future. Due to the covid pandemic, what was once meant to be a launch exclusive for the new-gen consoles has been delayed twice. Sadly, Halo fans will have to wait another good portion of a year before it is released. But when it does, it will absolutely be included in the Xbox Game Pass and will be an instant hit. While this might be a letdown for the gaming community, but it was needed to be done as the studios were facing problems developing the game amidst the lockdown. Just like CD Projekt Red, the studio behind Cyberpunk 2077, this game’s studio’s developers had immense troubles calibrating to the new work from home routine. As gaming history has taught us, it is better to delay a game launch than publish an unfinished one. As unfinished games often tend to gamers being felt cheated, it often leads to these games being downloaded less. If there isn’t a strong enough user base, game studios often stop maintaining the game, providing fixes and updates. This ultimately leads to games being underrated, such as Final Fantasy XIV and No Man’s Sky.
Popular Games you can play right now on your Xbox Game Pass.
Doom Eternal
It is the sequel to the super-famous Doom released four whole years ago. Doom Eternal follows the gameplay as well as the story as of Doom. This game will have you using guns, obviously to kill real big demons that all come from Hell. This Hell is portrayed as an alternate dimension. In Doom, you play as a demon slayer looking to close the portal to hell on Mars. But this game, all hell has broken loose, quite literally. You must now face the horror the demons from hell had brought upon the earth. And fight them to death in a fast-paced, action-packed game. That too with style. The game has a bit more story than its predecessor, where you kill and kill and kill. Cut scenes are a bit more expansive as they show more of the story. But the fighting is still well in the majority.
Control
This is one of the few games that push PCs and the new consoles to their absolute limits. While playing Control, you are given the role of Jesse Faden. And, you have to infiltrate the Federal Bureau of Control. The Bureau’s headquarters look like a dull building at first. But, as you continue to explore the game, you discover weird things. The Hiss, an unknown entity, has taken control of all the employees. And, the building has been converted into a ghost house. Employees float around lifelessly, security guards try to kill you, and all sorts of weird entities are met. With your psychic powers at play and your service weapon, you have to discover the Hiss cause and close it from inside out. The gameplay is well in control, as you have to find the rhythm of offense and defense with just your pistol at your side.
Forza Horizon 4
This racing game is nothing like you have ever seen before. Forza Horizon has been an alternative to the Need for Speed lineup. But this time around, they have outplayed them. The graphics are truly futuristic. The scenery is truly breathtaking as you drive around in one of the best supercars around the scenic Edinburgh going head to head with other online players. The graphics are the best and the car collection biggest we’ve seen ever in a racing game. The gameplay of Forza Horizon Series has already been different than the competitors. It has represented controls more closely to real-world scenarios like the F1 games than the extreme controls shown in the Need for Speed lineup. All in all, this racing game deserves a big thumbs up from our side. So, if you haven’t tried it out yet, you’re missing out big time.
Gears 5
Winner of the Best Xbox Game of the Year by Gamescom, Titanium Awards, and Golden Joystick Award, this game is nothing short of a Masterpiece. Just like the Halo Series, the Gears of War series, of which this is the fifth installment, is also published by the Xbox Game Studio. Even belonging to that studio, this game completely outperforms the expectations its predecessor has set. The game continues where Gears of War 4 focuses on Kait Diaz, the main character. She has to play the role of bringing humanity back in order as they fight back Locusts. And uncover the dark secrets of her family. The gameplay is heavy and marvelous, with big guns and extensive twists in the plot. In addition to single-player gameplay, the game supports three-player local split-screen or online cooperative gameplay too. This game is a must-play in the Xbox Game Pass library. Also Read: Watch Dogs: Legion Online Release Date, Update and Modes Revealed
