Microsoft has officially rolled out Game Pass Standard, the new middle tier of the Netflix-like subscription service, and revealed which games will and will not be included at launch. Among those missing are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Diablo IVand some other notable blockbusters like Starfield.
Game Pass Standard was announced earlier this summer and costs $15 per month. It includes access to online multiplayer as well as a library of hundreds of games that can be downloaded and played on demand. The big difference between Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate is, the now $20 per month expensive versionis that the former will only contain certain additions to the library when up to 12 months later, in some cases even longerThe most notable example is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6which will only be part of Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC when it launches on October 25th.
But a list of existing libraries Each tier also highlights other inconsistencies in games already available on the service. Modern Warfare 3which was added last month is conspicuously missing. Diablo IVadded in spring with a new extension, Vessel of Hatewill be released on October 8th. AppreciationRiot Games’ hero shooter, which recently came out for console, is free to play, but certain characters are locked behind a paywall. The Game Pass version, which unlocks them all for free, is part of Ultimate, but not Standard.
Some smaller day-and-date games are also missing. Flintlockthe colonial-era Soulslike came to Game Pass in July but is not included in the standard library. Another crab treasurethe cartoonish Soulslike that came out in April. The depth still awakensthe horror walking simulation that was released in June is also missing. It seems as though many current day-one Game Pass releases, including Microsoft’s own Age of mythology retoldwill not be available in standard anytime soon, although it was already available on the service before the official split. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II there is no such thing as Starfield which came out over a year ago.
When will these and other games make it into the mid-range category? That’s the most confusing part of all. Right now, there doesn’t seem to be a standard approach where all releases are staggered by the same number of months. Even with Microsoft’s own initial releases, it seems like their arrival in the standard tier will happen when it happens. Indiana Jones and the Great CircleFor example, it might not be included in the Game Pass Standard until spring, when it first appears on the PS5.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
