Over the years, subscribers to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate have been spoiled for choice when it comes to racing game content. Between games like Forza Horizon 5, Forza Motorsport 7, and several of the annualized F1 games, it’s fair to say that some of the best modern examples of the genre have been available through the service. One series that’s featured and stood out, in particular, is Codemasters’ beloved Dirt.
As it stands right now, several entries in the series are available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate thanks to Microsoft's deal to make EA Play a bonus within the service. When October 3 rolls around though, subscribers will lose access to both Dirt 4 and Dirt Rally. Despite the fact that the newest installment of the series will remain accessible on Game Pass Ultimate after this point, there are multiple reasons why players should still experience both of the older games before they depart.
Dirt 4
When it was released back in 2017, it can be argued that Dirt 4 was a breath of fresh air for fans of the racing genre. Having experimented with hit-and-miss spin-offs like Dirt: Showdown, the fourth mainline entry in the rallying series represented a return to tradition and form for Codemasters. It’s little surprise then that the game’s Xbox One version earned an impressive score of 86 on Metacritic and was heralded at the time as a new benchmark for other genre contemporaries to chase.
This critical reception is part of the reason why Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will want to check out Dirt 4 before it departs the service on October 3. Although Dirt 5 has arguably taken up its predecessor's mantle and is also available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, the content within the fourth game has aged remarkably well. Between its charming presentation, accessible controls, and extensive list of content, there’s still plenty for fans of the genre to enjoy to this day.
In addition to featuring cars and procedurally generated tracks that didn’t make it over to the newest entry in the series, Dirt 4 also comes complete with a fairly accessible Achievements list. Right now, just racing through the game’s content will net players most of the digital accolades. The only Achievements that can be tricky to unlock revolve around its multiplayer modes and rotating daily community events.
One of the biggest reasons why Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will want to dive into both Dirt 4 and Rally soon, is the fact that this situation is about to change. That’s because, on October 3, the servers for both games will be shut down forever. While this means both will effectively lose their multiplayer modes, it also ensures that their respective Achievement lists will also become impossible to complete after this point in time.
Dirt Rally
While the aforementioned Dirt 4 was designed to be an accessible high-octane experience for as many racers as possible, the same can’t truly be said for the first Dirt Rally. That’s because, in most departments, it’s clear that Codemasters built the game to be a simulation-focused affair. Thanks to the emphasis that the publisher placed on creating a realistic racing game, Dirt Rally has unsurprisingly become notorious for its unforgiving nature and challenging difficulty.
As a result of this, getting to grips with the vehicles within Dirt Rally’s roster, as well as its often gravel and ice-paved tracks, is a deeply rewarding experience. Thanks to the game's hair-raising audio design, it's also highly immersive. Fans of the racing genre that have access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will therefore want to get behind the wheel of the title to test out their skills and luck. Similarly to Dirt 4, Rally also attained a Metacritic score of 86 on Xbox One when it first released, which underlines its critical appeal.
With several online-only Achievements within its roster, subscribers will want to jump into Dirt Rally as soon as possible. With October 3 coming into view, players only have a limited amount of time to finish off their lists before the game’s multiplayer modes are shut down for good. In general, the off-road racing game's Achievements are harder to unlock than the more user-friendly Dirt 4 though, which means Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have to race to unlock all of them in time.