Every month, Xbox Game Pass entices players with updates on upcoming games. While losing a beloved title can be disheartening, these announcements often ignite enthusiasm for the fresh experiences set to launch. As the holiday season concludes, January 2025 promises an exciting selection of games to keep subscribers engaged during the chilly winter months.
The Xbox Game Pass boasts a diverse library of games spanning multiple genres, with regular refreshes that keep the platform appealing. Over the last year, there has been a noticeable uptick in same-day game releases on Game Pass, enhancing its value, particularly for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. This trend offers gamers the opportunity to dive into new titles alongside friends on launch day, as evidenced by December’s offerings.
Upcoming Titles on Game Pass for January 2025
New Games Launching January 1
Starting January, five new titles will become available on Xbox Game Pass concurrently with their general release. One noteworthy addition is Sniper Elite: Resistance, the latest installment in the acclaimed Sniper Elite series, which immerses players in the fight against Nazi occupation in France, set to launch on January 30, 2025.
| Game | Release Date | Available on Launch Day |
|---|---|---|
| Carrion | Wednesday, January 1, 2025 | No |
| Road 96 | Monday, January 6, 2025 | No |
| Eternal Strands | Tuesday, January 28, 2025 | Yes |
| Sniper Elite: Resistance | Thursday, January 30, 2025 | Yes |
| Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector | Friday, January 31, 2025 | Yes |
Another exciting title set for a day-one release is Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, an immersive RPG featuring dice mechanics in an emotionally charged sci-fi universe. Players assume the role of an escaped android navigating a hostile landscape while piecing together their past and building a crew for interstellar adventures.
Choosing to join Game Pass can provide significant advantages. Subscribers with Game Pass Ultimate often have access to exclusive launch bundles and additional perks not available with standard subscriptions, particularly for those anticipating the newest games.
Titles Departing Game Pass in January 2025
Games Leaving Starting January 1
As exciting new titles come in, it’s always a letdown to see games exit Xbox Game Pass. In January, several popular titles will no longer be available, including the strategic masterpiece Humankind. Other fan favorites like BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle and Close to the Sun will also be removed, leaving players with mixed emotions as they try to savor their last moments with these games.
| Game | Date Leaving Game Pass |
|---|---|
| Close to the Sun | Wednesday, January 1, 2025 |
| Humankind | |
| BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle | |
| McPixel 3 |
While losing access to any title can be disheartening, many games cycle back onto the service eventually. The Yakuza/Like A Dragon series frequently exemplifies this pattern, enhancing the hope for fans that some of their favorite games may reappear on Game Pass in the future.
Anticipated Additions to Game Pass in January
Titles We Hope to See
Even with the thrilling new titles scheduled, numerous players are clamoring for additional offerings on Xbox Game Pass. Many were disappointed to discover that Baldur’s Gate 3 remains absent from the service, along with other popular requests like Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the roguelite deck-builder Balatro, which are unlikely to make their debut on Game Pass this month.
As the season closes and festivities come to an end, current titles may receive exciting holiday-themed DLCs or updates. Anticipation builds as more game additions are expected to be announced, drawing new players to Xbox Game Pass. Now might be an opportune moment to subscribe, as the new year brings fresh games and exclusive perks that are hard to resist.
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