Xbox reveals disappointing Game Pass lineup after price increase, but confirms fans’ biggest suspicion

The XBOX used to be known as the budget option for gamers, with the Xbox Series S being one of the cheapest modern consoles on the market and the excellent value on offer with Xbox Game Pass.

However, there have been a number of signs that this is no longer the case, and even longtime Xbox fans appear to be turning against the company.

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Xbox recently announced a major price increase for Xbox Game Pass, including replacing the Xbox Game Pass for Console tier with Xbox Game Pass Standard, which does not include day one releases.

Immediately after, the next Game Pass lineup included three games that were released on day one, meaning there were no games available at the Standard tier.

Xbox fans were hoping the company would make up for it in August by releasing a big, stacked lineup, especially as the price of Xbox consoles rose in Japan.

However, while Game Pass usually announces around 6 to 8 games coming to the service every few weeks, the first half of August will only see three new additions.

The first of these arrives on August 7th and launches on day one, meaning it won’t be available to Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers.

Creatures of Ava is an action-adventure creature collector where you try to save the animals around you.

The second new game is actually three in one, as Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy includes remakes of the first three games in the Crash Bandicoot series.

The platformers in this collection have been considered some of the best games since they were originally released for the PS1 in the 90s.

Finally, Game Pass subscribers can purchase Mafia: Definitive Edition, which is an updated version of the first game in the classic third-person shooter series.

Here’s the full list of games coming to Game Pass in August with their release dates:

• August 7th
  • Ava’s Creatures – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC) *Ultimate and PC only
• August 8
  • Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy – (Cloud, console and PC)
• August 13
  • Mafia: Definitive Edition – (Cloud, console and PC)

While fans are disappointed with this month’s Game Pass offerings, they have given players a clue as to what’s to come.

Since the nearly $70 billion acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard last year, gamers have been waiting for more games to be released on Game Pass.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was added last month and Diablo 4 was added earlier this year, but those are the only ones.

With the addition of Crash Bandicoot so close to Call of Duty’s launch on the service, fans think their prayers may have finally been answered.

If you want to read more about the upcoming games, check out the new trailer for Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.