Xbox Game Pass Archives

Winsage

July 9, 2025

Deal Alert: Get Windows 11 Pro for Just $9.97 Before Windows 10 Support Ends

A lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro is available for .97, a 95% discount from the standard retail price of 9.99, until July 15 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Windows 10 support will end in October 2025. Windows 11 Pro features include BitLocker device encryption, Secure Boot, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, DirectX 12 Ultimate support for gaming, Microsoft Copilot AI for productivity, and optimized performance for Intel and AMD chips.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Arkane co-founder calls Xbox Game Pass “unsustainable”

Raphael Colantonio, co-founder of Arkane Studios, expressed concerns about the sustainability of Xbox Game Pass, calling it "unsustainable" and "actively damaging" to the gaming industry. He believes the model, supported by Microsoft's financial resources, is not viable long-term and cannot coexist with traditional sales models. Colantonio stated that "the maths don't work for Game Pass" and highlighted that the service's current success is due to Microsoft's significant investment. Game Pass has 34 million subscribers, but recent layoffs in Microsoft's gaming division raise questions about the future of the company's gaming strategy.

AppWizard

July 8, 2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4: Release Date, Release Times, Early Access Details For Xbox & PC

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 will be released on July 8th, 2025, for Deluxe Edition owners and on July 11th, 2025, for the standard edition, which will be available on Xbox Game Pass. Early access starts at 12am ET / 5am BST on July 8th and the official release for Xbox Game Pass users is at the same time on July 11th. The Deluxe Upgrade costs £18.00 and offers early access, bonus content including playable characters, additional songs, and exclusive items, but does not include the full game. The standard edition will be available at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass members.

AppWizard

July 6, 2025

Arkane Studios founder slams Microsoft for its Game Pass focus: ‘At some point reality has to hit’

Raphael Colantonio, founder of Arkane Studios, has expressed concerns about Xbox Game Pass, labeling it an unsustainable business model that has negatively impacted the gaming industry for the past decade. He believes that Game Pass cannot coexist with other business models and predicts it will either dominate or fail. Colantonio warns that while the service currently appeals to gamers, it may lead to resentment as its long-term effects on game quality and diversity become evident. He draws parallels between Game Pass and the trajectory of streaming services, suggesting that it may lead to similar issues in the gaming industry. Despite these concerns, Microsoft remains committed to Game Pass, which is crucial for its future amid declining console sales.

AppWizard

July 5, 2025

Call of Duty: WW2 Players Say the Game Is “Not Safe” After Coming to Xbox Game Pass

Call of Duty: WW2 has been added to Xbox Game Pass, but PC players are cautioned against playing it due to significant risks, including a decline in player engagement and the presence of hackers. Older titles, like WW2, are particularly vulnerable as Activision offers limited support, making them targets for malicious actors. Reports indicate that hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities, such as remote code execution (RCE) exploits, which can lead to unauthorized control over players' machines. Incidents have been reported where players experienced unexpected shutdowns and intrusive pop-ups, including inappropriate content. While no confirmed cases of data theft have emerged, the potential for malware remains a concern. Players are advised to avoid online matches in Call of Duty: WW2 on PC until an official resolution is provided.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

Epic Games Store Now Has $40 Worth of Free Games

The Epic Games Store is offering two free games for PC gamers until July 10. Players who claim them during this period will retain access indefinitely. The first game is Backpack Hero, developed by Jaspel, which has a Metacritic score of 76 and an 86% approval rating on Steam from nearly 7,000 players. It offers 10 to 60 hours of gameplay and features a deck-building roguelike mechanic focused on item organization within a backpack. The second game is Figment, created by Bedtime Digital Games, with a Metacritic score of 77 and an 87% approval rating on Steam from over 1,000 reviews. It provides 5 to 6 hours of gameplay and is set in a whimsical, musical action-adventure within the human mind, where players solve puzzles to confront nightmares.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Mecha Break launch times and release date

Mecha Break, developed by Amazing Seasun Games, is scheduled for release on July 1st, with some regions launching on July 2nd. The game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles at the following times: 9 pm PDT (Los Angeles), 11 pm CST (Chicago), 12 am EDT (New York), 5 am BST (London), 6 am CEST (Berlin), 12 pm CST (Beijing), 1 pm KST (Seoul), and 1 pm JST (Tokyo). There will be no early access period, and all players will have access simultaneously. Mecha Break is free to play and offers additional perks for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including exclusive costumes and an Airdrop Support Pack. Preloading began on June 29, with a download size of just over 30GB.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Nine more games announced for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass

This month, Game Pass will add several new titles, including the day-one release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 on July 11. Other upcoming games include Little Nightmares 2 and Rise of the Tomb Raider, both available today, as well as Legend of Mana and Trials of Mana on July 2, Ultimate Chicken Horse on July 3, The Ascent on July 8, and Minami Lane on July 9. Starting July 15, the following games will be removed from Game Pass: Flock, Mafia Definitive Edition, Magical Delicacy, Tchia, The Callisto Protocol, and The Case of the Golden Idol. A 20% discount is offered for purchases of these departing titles before they leave the service.

AppWizard

June 29, 2025

Xbox Game Pass Just Quietly Added The Most Influential Strategy Series Ever On PC

The divide between console and PC gaming has blurred, with genres crossing platforms. Classic computer games, like those in the Warcraft series, still benefit from mouse and keyboard precision. The Warcraft franchise has significantly influenced the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, with a remastered collection of the trilogy now available for PC players through Game Pass. Warcraft: Orcs & Humans set a new standard for RTS games, introducing intricate missions and online multiplayer. Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness solidified the series' status with enhanced AI and user-friendly controls, while also being ported to PlayStation and Sega Saturn. Warcraft III redefined the series by emphasizing hero units and intertwining narratives, leading to the events of World of Warcraft. The remastered versions, including Warcraft III: Reforged, have improved significantly and are accessible through Game Pass, providing a convenient way to experience these influential titles. The Warcraft trilogy is available on PC and included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

FBC: Firebreak hits 1m players

Remedy Entertainment announced that its latest title, FBC: Firebreak, has attracted over one million players as of June 26, just nine days after its launch on June 17. The game is available through subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Data from SteamDB shows a peak of 1,992 concurrent users on Steam. FBC: Firebreak is Remedy's first multiplayer game, initially announced as Project Condor in 2021 and originally set to be published by 505 Games before Remedy decided to self-publish.