Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Welcomes EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are in for a treat! Starting today, January 14th, 2025, EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo are joining the lineup. These two titles, released a remarkable 27 years apart, mark the culmination of Wave 1 additions for January 2025.

This marks the third and fourth additions to the service this month. Diablo, the seminal hack-and-slash RPG released in late 1996, needs little introduction. Its impact on the genre is undeniable. On the other hand, EA Sports UFC 5, the latest installment in EA's popular MMA franchise, launched in October 2023.

While Microsoft aims for broad platform availability, these additions are platform-specific. Diablo is PC-only, while EA Sports UFC 5 requires an Xbox Series X/S for local play. However, Ultimate subscribers with sufficient internet speeds can stream UFC 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Activision Blizzard Titles on Game Pass

With the addition of Diablo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now boasts an impressive 13 Activision Blizzard titles (counting Spyro and Crash trilogies as three games each). This represents a steady influx of approximately one new Activision Blizzard title per month since Microsoft's acquisition. While many more are anticipated, the release pace is clearly accelerating.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games

EA Sports UFC 5 and Diablo conclude January 2025's Wave 1. Wave 2 is anticipated soon, potentially on January 21st, aligning with Microsoft's usual Tuesday announcements.

Further announcements are expected before the January 23rd Xbox Developer Direct, which will feature Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages – all confirmed as day-one Game Pass Ultimate titles. Before the Direct, however, six games will leave the service on January 15th, including Insurgency: Sandstorm and Those Who Remain.

$42 at Amazon $17 at Xbox