Overview of New Additions to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
- Blue Prince and NHL 25 joined the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate lineup on April 10.
- Blue Prince stands out as a “strategy puzzle adventure”and has quickly become one of the top-rated games of 2025.
- On April 15, the Xbox Game Pass will see a rotation that includes two new games while removing seven titles from the service.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has recently enhanced its catalog with the addition of two highly anticipated titles: Blue Prince and NHL 25. These additions mark the fifth and sixth entries to the Ultimate tier in April 2025, further enriching the gaming experience for subscribers.
In the ongoing expansion of Microsoft’s subscription service, this month has already welcomed popular titles such as Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition, South of Midnight, Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls, and Commandos: Origins. Interestingly, Descenders Next was anticipated to launch on April 9 but faced an unexpected delay.
Following the delay of Descenders Next, Microsoft introduced NHL 25 as part of their April 2025 Wave 1 lineup. This latest iteration of EA Sports’ famed ice hockey franchise made its debut on April 10, coinciding with Blue Prince. Importantly, while NHL 25 is exclusively playable on Xbox Series X/S for local play and has not been ported to PC, it supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, allowing Ultimate subscribers to access the game on PCs via streaming.
Upcoming Releases on Xbox Game Pass
| Game | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Prince | Ultimate, PC, Standard | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Apr 10 | Day-one release. |
| NHL 25 | Ultimate | Cloud, Series X/S | Apr 10 | |
| Hunt: Showdown 1896 | Ultimate, PC | PC | Apr 15 | Available to console subscribers since December 2024. |
| Grand Theft Auto 5 | Ultimate, PC, Standard | Cloud, Console, PC | Apr 15 | Last available in January 2024. |
| Tempopo | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Apr 17 | Day-one release. |
| Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Ultimate, PC | PC, Series X/S | Apr 24 | Day-one release. |
| Revenge of the Savage Planet | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | May 8 | Day-one release. |
| Doom: The Dark Ages | Ultimate, PC | PC, Series X/S | May 15 | Day-one release. |
| To A T | Ultimate, PC | PC, Series X/S | May 28 | Day-one release. |
| Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 | Ultimate, PC | Console, PC | Jul 11 | Day-one release. |
Despite NHL 25 being a well-established title, Blue Prince has rapidly garnered interest. Developed by the California-based studio Dogubomb, this intriguing title launched on April 10 and has received enthusiastic acclaim, with an impressive “Mighty”rating on OpenCritic based on an average score of 90 and a stellar 95% recommendation rate from reviewers. This marks Blue Prince as one of the standout titles of 2025, offering a unique gaming experience that challenges players to explore Mt. Holly—a mysterious manor characterized by its ever-changing design—to uncover the secrets hidden within Room 46.
Future Availability of Blue Prince on Xbox Game Pass Standard
Currently, Blue Prince is exclusively available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as a day-one release. Based on Microsoft’s history with successful titles, it’s anticipated that this acclaimed adventure will transition to the Standard tier within the next 6 to 12 months. In contrast, since NHL 25 is only obtainable through the EA Play add-on, it will not be available to Xbox Game Pass Standard subscribers.
The upcoming expansion of the Xbox Game Pass catalog is scheduled for April 15, featuring the return of Grand Theft Auto 5 for the fourth time in five years, alongside Hunt: Showdown 1896 for PC Game Pass. This date will also see the removal of several titles, all of which subscribers can acquire at a 20% discount during the transition.