Xbox Game Pass is one of the pillars of Microsoft's gaming strategy. Even CEO Satya Nadella, who wants it to slowly morph into the Netflix of gaming, has been very clear about this.

　　The recently acquired development studios (Ninja Theory, Playground Games, Undead Labs, Compulsion Games, Obsidian, inXile, and Double Fine) are clearly meant to be providing that much-needed variety to Xbox Game Pass. However, even with the greatly increased first-party output, the game library of a subscription service also needs a significant amount of third-party titles.

　　During yesterday's special Inside Xbox episode at X019, Xbox Game Pass subscribers saw a literal multitude of games available now or coming in the next months to the service. Some of the highlights include the entire Final Fantasy saga (from VII to XV, minus the online ones, though Final Fantasy XIV was also confirmed to be coming to the Xbox One platform by Phil Spencer) and the latest Yakuza titles (Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2).

　　These are particularly notable given the historically complicated relationship of Xbox with Japanese developers and Japan in general. On that particular note, Square Enix also revealed that Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue will be released on Xbox One at some point in 2020, while a new Kingdom Hearts III demo is out now (with the full game 67% off, too, on Microsoft Store).

　　Additionally, three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (including Xbox Live Gold and XGP for both console and PC) can be purchased for just one dollar if you've never tried the service before. Last but not least, all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can redeem 1 month of EA Access, 3 months of Discord Nitro, and 6 months of Spotify Premium.

　　

Out now on Xbox Game Pass

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition (PC)Age of Wonders: Planetfall (Console, coming soon to PC)Hearts of Iron IV: Cadet Edition (PC)LEGO: The Ninjago Movie Videogame (Console)Rage 2 (Console & PC)Remnant: From the Ashes (Console)The Talos Principle (Console & PC)Tracks: The Train Set Game (Console & PC)

Coming later this year or in 2020 to Xbox Game Pass

Carrion (Console & PC) – ID@XboxCris Tales (Console & PC) – ID@XboxCyber Shadow (Console & PC)Darksiders III (Console & PC)Double Kick Heroes (Console & PC) – ID@XboxDrake Hollow (Console & PC) – ID@XboxEdge of Eternity (Console & PC) – ID@XboxFinal Fantasy franchise (Console & PC)Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VIII: RemasteredFinal Fantasy IXFinal Fantasy X: HD RemasteredFinal Fantasy X-2: HD RemasteredFinal Fantasy XII: The Zodiac AgeFinal Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XIII-2Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIFinal Fantasy XVForager (Console & PC) – ID@XboxHaven (Console & PC) – ID@XboxIt Lurks Below (Console & PC) – ID@XboxLevelhead (Console & PC) – ID@XboxLife Is Strange 2: Episodes 4 & 5 (Console)My Friend Pedro (Console/PC)Pandemic (PC)PHOGS (Console & PC) – ID@XboxShe Dreams Elsewhere (Console & PC) – ID@XboxSkateBird (Console & PC) – ID@XboxStreets of Rage 4 (Console & PC) – ID@XboxScourge Bringer (Console & PC) – ID@XboxSupraland (Console) – ID@XboxTekken 7 (Console)Touhou Luna Nights (Console & PC) – ID@XboxThe Escapists 2 (Console)The Red Lantern (Console) – ID@XboxThe Red Strings Club (PC)The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Console)Vambrace: Cold Soul (Console & PC)West of Dead (Console & PC)Yakuza franchise (Console & PC)Yakuza 0Yakuza KiwamiYakuza Kiwami 2