Xbox Game Pass Is a Ridiculously Good Deal for RPG Fans Right Now
I may have dabbled with Xbox in the early days, but at some point I made the full switch over to PC gaming. The high frequency of Steam sales has usually been enough to tide me over on newer releases. So while I knew Game Pass was out there and did occasionally offer some big name games, there was never a moment where it felt like it would be worth it for me, personally. Well, until yesterday.
Bethesda and Virtuos shadow-dropping Oblivion Remastered straight onto Game Pass? A badly kept secret, but still an insane reveal. Tomorrow, the gaming subscription will get Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the stylish debut from Sandfall Interactive that takes inspiration from the JRPG greats. I have to admit, as a die-hard RPG fan: Microsoft, you finally got me.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Both Hit Game Pass This Week
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was revealed and released on PC, consoles, and Game Pass on April 22. Like most people, I spent most of the day downloading the game and most of the night basking in the music. Highlights from the borderline-remake include new character models, combat interactions, and remastered VFX. And while they did enlist more than five new voice actors, it seems Virtuos kept the best of the original’s janky dialogue. The base edition of the remaster launched at a price of $49.99, which includes both the original DLCs, with a deluxe edition available for $10 more.
Meanwhile, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the long-awaited debut game from French studio Sandfall Interactive. Ahead of the game’s launch (12am PST tonight in the U.S.), it holds a 92 rating on Metacritic, with IGN’s 9/10 review praising the story design and describing it “as a true modern throwback.” The game’s stylish UI reminds me of the Persona series, and early gameplay footage shows off one of the coolest turn-based combat systems I’ve ever seen. The base edition is launching at the same price as the Bethesda remaster: $49.99.
While Expedition 33 was marketed as the headline of April’s Game Pass lineup, the surprise release of Oblivion Remastered has led to some concern of a “shadow” over the indie game’s release. That said, my perspective is that we’re getting two incredible cakes, and Game Pass makes enjoying both a little easier on the wallet. Instead of spending $100 on two new games, I spent $20 on a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Now the only question is when I’ll touch grass again.
Plenty more of 2025’s biggest games have recently made it onto the service, including Blue Prince, South of Midnight, and Avowed, which join mainstay classics like GTA V and, of course, the full spread of Call of Duty. It really does seem like there’s something for everyone.
Game Pass Is a Ridiculously Good Deal Right Now
Game Pass Ultimate starts at $19.99/month and gives you access to the full Game Pass library across console and PC as well as cloud gaming. The exclusive-to-PC Game Pass lowers that cost to $9.99/month. The Standard and Core subscription tiers are $14.99/month and $9.99/month, respectively, but don’t include day one releases. The last Game Pass price hike was in July 2024, and with these types of game launches, I wouldn’t be surprised if those prices go up again some time this year.
While there aren’t any live Game Pass deals right now, you can pick up three-month subscription that might save you from any future price hikes. For other platforms, feel free to check out our roundup of PS5, PC, and Switch deals. Speaking of, U.S. preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live tonight.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
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