We're about two months into 2022 at this point, and Xbox Game Pass has already proven itself to be a must-have service this year. Following an impressive 2021, Microsoft made sure that Xbox Game Pass hit the ground running in 2022, releasing plenty of new games on Xbox Game Pass in both January and February.
The new games added to Xbox Game Pass in January and February 2022 should keep subscribers plenty busy, but there's a lot more to look forward to later in the year as well. Based on what's been announced so far, there's even a chance that Xbox Game Pass could potentially outdo its 2021 offerings with the games it releases this year.
Here's what fans can expect from Xbox Game Pass in 2022.
Day One Xbox Game Pass Games 2022
A key part of Microsoft's strategy when it comes to Xbox Game Pass is its day one games. By adding day one games to the service, Microsoft ensures that Xbox Game Pass essentially pays for itself for those who pick up new games on a regular basis, making it legitimately the best deal in gaming. For example, if someone were to purchase Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite last year, it would've cost them upwards of $120. For about the same price, they simply could've paid for Xbox Game Pass and had access to not only Forza Horizon 5 and Halo Infinite at launch, but a multitude of other games as well.
Microsoft's going to keep the focus on day one games in 2022, having already released numerous day one Xbox Game Pass games on the platform in January and February. Microsoft has yet to even reveal its full slate of games for the year, but looking ahead, there are already numerous day one titles that are scheduled to release on Xbox Game Pass throughout 2022. Subscribers can look forward to Infernax and Total War: Warhammer 3 later in February, while March will include games like FAR: Changing Tides and Weird West.
One of the more heavy hitting day one Xbox Game Pass games in 2022 is MLB: The Show 22 on April 4. MLB: The Show 22 is a PlayStation-published game, marking the second year in a row that a PlayStation game has debuted on Xbox Game Pass.
There will be other multi-platform, non-exclusives hitting Xbox Game Pass on day one in 2022 in a bid by Microsoft to convince fans to go with the Xbox version of the games instead. This will include A Plague Tale: Requiem, Atomic Heart, Hello Neighbor 2, Sniper Elite 5, and more.
Xbox Exclusive Games
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The bulk of Xbox Game Pass is made up of multi-platform titles, but there will also be a number of exclusive Xbox games hitting the service throughout 2022. The first major one of the year will be CrossfireX, a first-person shooter with a campaign developed by Remedy Entertainment, which is set to launch as a pure Xbox exclusive come February 10. The other Xbox exclusives will be available on PC as well as Xbox, so fans should keep that in mind.
As it stands, there are four Xbox console exclusive games currently scheduled to release in 2022, all of which will be available on Game Pass the very day that they launch. This summer will see Redfall from Arkane join the Xbox Game Pass lineup, giving fans on PC and Xbox Series X/S the chance to team up with friends in a co-op vampire shooter game. Not much has been shown of Redfall just yet, but Arkane is a studio with a proven track record, so the game certainly has potential to impress.
Then in October, horror fans can check out Scorn. Scorn uses rather bizarre imagery to create a disturbing sense of dread in the player, and it will definitely be interesting to see how the final product turns out come October. A specific release date for the game has not been announced, but Xbox Game Pass subscribers should be able to play Scorn in time for Halloween, assuming it's not the victim of another delay.
A day one, exclusive Xbox game that does have a specific release date is Starfield from Bethesda. The latest game from the same studio behind Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, Starfield is an ambitious new open world sci-fi RPG. Starfield is being positioned as Xbox's flagship game for this coming holiday season, especially since it will only be available to PC gamers and those with a next-gen Xbox console handy.
And finally, STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is coming to Xbox Game Pass on December 8. STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl is the long-awaited sequel to STALKER, letting players explore a version of Chernobyl inhabited by mutated creatures and other threats. STALKER 2's graphics look like they will be taking great advantage of the Xbox Series X's beefier hardware, and what's been shown has looked incredibly impressive so far.
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Xbox Game Pass in 2022. The fact of the matter is that Microsoft doesn't like to reveal most of its new Xbox Game Pass games far in advance, instead announcing them about every two weeks or so. So between what's already been announced and what has yet to be revealed, Xbox Game Pass subscribers should be able to look forward to an incredible 2022.