This week promises to be full of news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, with five new titles that will be gradually distributed from Tuesday to Friday. Microsoft has opted for a staggered release strategy that keeps players’ attention high for almost the entire week, culminating with the arrival of a particularly eagerly awaited first-party game.
The highlight of the week will undoubtedly be Keeper, due on Friday. It is an atmospheric puzzle adventure signed by Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, the studio now owned by Microsoft. The game tells the touching story of a forgotten lighthouse that comes to life and, accompanied by a lively seabird, embarks on an unexpected journey through unknown dimensions. The collaboration between these two unlikely companions promises to provide moments of authentic emotion.
But let’s proceed in order. Opening the dance is up to The Casting of Frank Stone, available from Tuesday. This Supermassive Games title takes players back to Cedar Hills, a town indelibly marked by Frank Stone’s violent past. A group of young friends are about to discover how deeply Stone’s blood-stained legacy has left scars not only on families and subsequent generations, but on the very fabric of reality.
Two very different proposals will arrive on Wednesday. Ball x Pit combines elements of brick-breaking and survival roguelite: players will have to fend off hordes of enemies with bouncing balls, collect riches to expand their base and recruit unique heroes. The Grinch: Christmas Adventures will also make its debut on the same day, a Christmas platformer where the famous character uses gadgets such as a Santa Claus costume and a candy sugar lasso to steal gifts from the inhabitants of Who-is-ville.
Thursday will be the turn of Pax Dei, available exclusively for PC. It is a sandbox MMO set in a medieval era where myths are real, ghosts exist and magic is an integral part of the world. The game invites thousands of players to explore, build, forge their reputations and create their own stories in a shared universe. From a membership perspective, all five titles will be accessible to both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.
Premium subscribers, however, will only have access to three of these games: The Casting of Frank Stone, The Grinch: Christmas Adventures and Pax Dei. It is worth mentioning that Premium subscribers will also receive three titles already available for Ultimate and PC on October 15th: Eternal Strands, He Is Coming and Ninja Gaiden 2: Black. Microsoft’s strategy of spreading new arrivals over several days helps keep attention on the service and gives players more time to explore each title without feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of choices all at once.
