Xbox disappoints players for the third time with Game Pass offerings but Call of Duty could save the day

FOR the third time since Xbox announced major changes to Xbox Game Pass, players are disappointed by the number of games added to the service.

Xbox Game Pass’ price increased across all tiers in July, with Xbox Game Pass for Console being replaced by the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Standard.

Xbox promised more value from the Game Pass changes, but players have been disappointed by Game Pass’ offering since this announcement.

Three games are coming to Xbox Game Pass in the second half of August making for just six games total.

This is far fewer than the 18 games added to PS Plus in August or the 11 games added to Xbox Game Pass in June before the price increase.

The FTC claims that Xbox is offering players a ‘degraded product’, and this claim does not include the reduction in games that’s being offered each month.

While Xbox Game Pass Standard players will only receive four games this month, there is a major benefit for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Ultimate subscribers will be able to gain access to the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta, which will let them play months before the game’s full release.

The beta only includes the multiplayer modes, but it will give people a chance to try it out without pre-ordering.

Here’s the full list of games added to Xbox Game Pass in August and early September:

• Out now
  • Creatures of Ava – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S & PC) *Ultimate & PC only
  • Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy – (Cloud, console & PC)
  • Mafia: Definitive Edition – (Cloud, console & PC)
• August 22
  • Atlus Fallen – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S & PC)
• August 27
  • Core Keeper – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S & PC)
• August 30
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta – (Xbox Series X|S & PC) *Ultimate & PC only
• September 3
  • Star Trucker – (Cloud, console & PC) *Ultimate & PC only

There is a silver lining, but only for members of Xbox Game Pass Core: the cheapest tier of subscription which also received the smallest price increase.

Three more games will be added to the limited Xbox Game Pass core library shortly, and they are all pretty popular.

Cities: Skylines is known as one of the best city building simulators around, and Control is a fantastic action-adventure game from Remedy.

Here’s the list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass Core and their release date:

• August 21
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Control: Ultimate Edition
  • SnowRunner

If you want to read more about Xbox, check out the games that will be revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live.