Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Expands with Two New Games

Summary

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate welcomes two heavy hitters today: EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo. These titles, released a remarkable 27 years apart, mark the culmination of Wave 1 additions for January 2025.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can dive into EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo starting today. These are the third and fourth games added to the service this January.

Diablo, a seminal title that defined the hack-and-slash RPG genre, needs no introduction. Its inclusion alongside UFC 5, the latest installment in EA Sports' popular MMA fighting game series (released October 2023), is a testament to the breadth of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's offerings.

These two games, separated by nearly 27 years, join forces on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, launching later today, January 14th. While Microsoft prioritizes cross-platform titles, Diablo is PC-exclusive, and EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with sufficient internet speed can stream UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Now Boasts Over a Dozen Activision Blizzard Titles

With Diablo's arrival, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts 13 Activision Blizzard titles—counting the Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy as three games each. This averages nearly one new Activision Blizzard title per month since Microsoft's acquisition in late 2023. While many more Activision Blizzard games await their Xbox Game Pass debut, their addition rate is clearly accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

GameDate AddedGame Pass Tier(s)Platform(s)NotesEA Sports UFC 5Jan 14UltimateCloud, Series X/SDiabloJan 14Ultimate, PCPCEternal StrandsJan 28Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.Sniper Elite: ResistanceJan 30Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release.Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward VectorJan 31Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.AvowedFeb 18Ultimate, PCCloud, PC, Series X/SDay-one release.AtomfallMar 27Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release.Football Manager 25Mar ??Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release; exact release date TBA.Commandos: OriginsMar ??Ultimate, PCCloud, Console, PCDay-one release; exact release date TBA.

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo conclude January 2025's Wave 1 Xbox Game Pass additions. Wave 2 is anticipated soon, possibly January 21st, aligning with Microsoft's typical Tuesday announcements.

Further Xbox Game Pass news may arrive before month's end, given the January 23rd Xbox Developer Direct, which will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages—all confirmed as day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles slated for 2025 release. Before the Developer Direct, six games will leave Xbox Game Pass on January 15th, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon $17 at Xbox