The Xbox Game Pass continues to prove its worth as a subscription service thanks to an announcement made earlier today that introduced Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Jump Force as two late additions to the offering's September 2019 lineup, cementing an already strong month thanks to the success of Gears 5. Xbox Game Pass is Microsoft's popular game subscription service that gives players access to a large library of current and classic titles for a monthly fee, and has recently made headlines thanks to positive responses to the many AAA titles that have been making their way onto the platform.
The biggest addition in the history of Xbox Game Pass was undoubtedly Gears 5, which debuted for the service earlier this month and even offered Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers a chance to play the game early. While the early sessions of Gears 5 didn't exactly go according to plan, its official release certainly did - it became the biggest Xbox release of this generation, a must-own exclusive for Microsoft console owners, and a critical success that should continue its strong showing into the holiday season. That success was tied in to the fact it had a huge install base among Xbox Game Pass subscribers, putting the service in a favorable light just months ahead of a timeframe where many expect Project Scarlett to take center stage.
The Xbox Game Pass continues to impress thanks to a keen eye for popular games, and late September will see the newly announced via Xbox Wire console additions of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Bloodstained is an exploration-based side-scroller metroidvania title that impressed critics earlier this summer. Players take on the role of Miriam, an orphan who needs to save herself and humanity from a curse that will turn her into crystal. Praised as an unabashed love letter to the best elements of Castlevania, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is exactly the sort of hook the Xbox Game Pass September 2019 console lineup needed for those who weren't already tempted by AAA additions like Gears 5.
There's also something for anime fans as they eagerly await the release of fall lineup shows like My Hero Academia - Xbox Game Pass will add Jump Force, a battler that features many of Shonen Jump's most popular characters, including Naruto, Monkey D. Luffy, and Goku. While the game's graphics were controversial even after its release, it's a solid addition that scratches the itch for many anime and manga enthusiasts just looking for a Super Smash Bros.-style battler featuring their own favorites. Both games will arrive on Xbox Game Pass tomorrow, September 19, while other additions Bad North, DiRT Rally 2.0, and LEGO Worlds will all join the service on September 26.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Jump Force are two niche additions that will do well to broaden the appeal of the Xbox Game Pass service even further. With a reputation that's already strong and a new console generation just on the horizon, Microsoft is making all the right moves to establish Xbox - and the Xbox Game Pass - as items of interest for gamers moving forward, something that the platform sorely needs after a current generation that was dominated by Sony's PS4.
Source: Xbox Wire