The Value of Xbox Game Pass Core in 2023
In 2023, Microsoft made several changes to its Game Pass platform, replacing the less popular Xbox Live Gold with Game Pass Core, which offers access to over 25 high-quality games. Despite a slight price increase, it’s worth considering whether this service is worth its cost.
Regardless of the limited game selection, Game Pass Core offers an intriguing collection of titles. The list includes well-known first-person games such as Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5, Grounded, Halo 5: Guardians, Ori & the Will of the Wisps, Psychonauts 2, and State of Decay 2. The platform also features many games from other studios, such as Dishonored 2, DOOM Eternal, Fallout 4, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and The Elder Scrolls Online.
When it comes to indie games, Game Pass Core also stands out. Subscribers can enjoy titles like Among Us, Celeste, Dead Cells, Firewatch, Gang Beasts, Golf with Your Friends, INSIDE, LIMBO, Overcooked! 2, Slay the Spire, Spiritfarer, Stardew Valley, and Vampire Survivors.
Although Game Pass Core offers a lot of high-quality games, the selection of first-person titles is somewhat peculiar, as many of them are sequels without previous installments. Therefore, this service may satisfy new Game Pass users for a certain period of time, but long-time subscribers may feel like they are mainly paying for access to the online mode.
However, Microsoft has a solution for those seeking greater value. For a slightly higher price of £12.99 per month, you can upgrade your account to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This option allows you to play hundreds of games on Xbox consoles, PCs, and in the cloud. While the list of games in this case is regularly updated, the very ability to access such a large library is undoubtedly beneficial.
In 2023, Game Pass continued to add new titles from both first and third parties. Among them were games like Monster Hunter Rise, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R, Soul Hackers 2, Guilty Gear -Strive-, FIFA 23, F1 22, Need for Speed: Unbound, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Gotham Knights, Like a Dragon: Ishin!, Dead Space (2023), Remnant: From the Ashes, as well as their sequels, Far Cry 6, Rune Factory 4, and Hotwheels Unleashed.
Game Pass in 2023 also introduced many popular indie games, including Darkest Dungeon, Goat Simulator, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, Arcade Paradise, TOEM, The Wandering Village, GRIS, Solar Ash, and Rollerdrome.
It is also worth mentioning one of the biggest advantages of Game Pass – the ability to access new games on the day of their release. In 2023, Xbox Game Pass added a staggering 48 games to its library alongside their official premieres. This is an impressive number, especially compared to the competing PlayStation Plus service, which adds significantly fewer games.
In conclusion, while Game Pass Core may not always offer the greatest value for its price, there is always the option to upgrade your account to the Ultimate version or wait for the release of new exciting titles. Microsoft is definitely focused on building a collection of games available on the Game Pass service and provides users with many choices.
