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As we bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the fresh start of a new year, Xbox Game Pass is undergoing its own transformation with a flurry of game arrivals and departures.
It’s all change in fact, and as December rolls to a close, and January 2025 kicks into action with a host of new games, Game Pass whips up a frenzy. While we’re sad to see some beloved titles leave the service, there’s also excitement for the newly confirmed addition that will soon be gracing our Xbox and PC libraries.
Saying Goodbye to Familiar Faces
This week is a busy one for Game Pass subscribers and on December 31st 2024, we’ll be bidding adieu to six games across Cloud, Console, and PC:
- BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle: This anime-inspired fighter combines characters from various franchises for a crossover clash of epic proportions. A 4.5/5 scored review needs reading.
- Close to the Sun: If it’s an atmospheric adventure you need, this one will sort you out, taking players on a chilling journey through a mysterious scientific facility.
- Humankind: This historical strategy game allowed players to rewrite the course of human history and build their own civilisations.
- Lego 2K Drive: Open-world driving combined the fun of LEGO and the thrill of arcade racing. What’s not to like? It may not have wowed us like we had hoped, but it’s still well worth a play.
- McPixel 3: A quirky and chaotic puzzle game that challenges players to save the day with unconventional solutions.
- Party Animals: This physics-based party game brings together adorable animals for a hilarious and chaotic multiplayer experience.
None of these are included in our Game Pass Gems article, but you may still lament their loss…
Welcoming New Arrivals
But there is some good news in return.
We’re still awaiting a full January line-up, but for now there’s a new game confirmed for subscription play. While we’re sad to see these titles go, there’s also excitement for the new game joining the Game Pass family:
- Carrion (Cloud, Console, and PC): This reverse horror game lets you unleash your inner monster and wreak havoc as a terrifying creature. We found it to work rather well, concluding our review with ‘Carrion on Xbox is a very well-designed and crafted game. Whilst it can be frustrating to backtrack and redo levels when you’ve got a new power, the backtracking is part of the design rather than a flaw‘.
You’ll find this one available on January 2nd 2025 for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. If you can’t wait, you can purchase a download of Carrion from the Xbox Store for cash.
A New Year of Gaming Goodness
As always, Xbox Game Pass continues to deliver a diverse and ever-evolving library of games for subscribers to enjoy. While some titles may come and go, the service remains a fantastic value for gamers who want to explore new experiences and discover hidden gems.
So, as we raise a glass to the new year, let’s also take a moment to appreciate the games that have entertained us in 2024 and look forward to the exciting new adventures that await us in 2025!