Microsoft has announced a significant expansion of its Xbox Game Pass service, introducing new in-game benefits for free-to-play games alongside a comprehensive March update that enhances cloud gaming capabilities and more. The announcement represents Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to adding value for Game Pass subscribers and improving the overall Xbox ecosystem.
Xbox Game Pass Adds Substantial Free-to-Play Benefits
Starting this week, Microsoft is rolling out additional value to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members with a range of in-game benefits for free-to-play games. These new perks include cosmetics, characters, in-game currency, and other digital items for several popular titles. This move significantly increases the value proposition of Game Pass subscriptions, particularly for players who enjoy free-to-play games.
The first wave of new benefits includes perks for four major free-to-play titles. Players can now access benefits for Heroes of the Storm (PC), where members can unlock 30 Heroes from across Blizzard Entertainment’s universes after linking their Battle.net account. For Naraka: Bladepoint (Cloud, Console, and PC), subscribers will unlock all heroes, exclusive Xbox headgear, and the Phoenix Princess Pack featuring Justina Gu.
Smite 2 players on console and PC will receive the exclusive High Velocity Hecate Skin, five gods (Ares, Anhur, Hecate, Hercules, and Nemesis), the OP Title, and GG Emote with the Smite 2 Welcome Pack. Meanwhile, The Finals players on Xbox Series X|S and PC will unlock the Stryker Grid Set sponsored by Ivada, which includes a full outfit, three weapon skins, a charm, a 25% boost to Match XP, and 500 Multibucks.
Microsoft has confirmed that this is just the beginning, with even more in-game benefits arriving regularly for Game Pass members. Starting in April 2025, players will get access to additional perks for Asphalt Legends Unite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Enlisted, and War Thunder.
Existing Benefits Get More Visibility
These new additions expand upon an already impressive lineup of existing in-game benefits for Game Pass members. Current perks include unlocking all 160+ champions in League of Legends, six skins in Overwatch 2 (including Cardboard Reinhardt and Turtleship D.Va), all Agents in Valorant, and various other bonuses in games like Genshin Impact, Legends of Runeterra, and Teamfight Tactics.
To make these benefits more accessible, Microsoft is improving discovery within the Xbox interface. Players can now launch Xbox on PC, navigate to the Game Pass tab and click “More Benefits,” or navigate to a participating game’s page to see available in-game benefits. This streamlined approach ensures players can easily find and claim all the perks available to them.
Cloud Gaming Improvements Take Center Stage
The March update also brings significant enhancements to Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). One of the most notable improvements is the ability to seamlessly shift between games without returning to the Xbox.com/play homepage. Initially launching with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, this feature allows players to directly launch other Assassin’s Creed titles from within the game, including Origins, Valhalla, Odyssey, and Mirage.
Microsoft plans to extend this feature to additional cloud playable games soon, creating a more immersive and frictionless experience when switching between related titles.
The Stream Your Own Game collection is also expanding, with Game Pass Ultimate members now able to stream over 50 cloud playable games on supported devices if they own them. Recent additions include Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Gotham Knights, Party Animals, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Wobbly Life. Coming soon are Planet Coaster 2, Planet Zoo: Console Edition, Raft, Shredders, and The Thing: Remastered.
PC Gaming and Additional Updates
PC gamers will notice a fresh new look for Game Bar, marking the beginning of several visual enhancements rolling out this week. The update includes a refreshed design for Game Bar and various utility widgets, including Home Bar, Capture widget, Performance widget, Resource widget, and Widget Store. Improvements to controller navigation within the Widget Store ensure a smoother experience when using Compact Mode on PCs and handheld Windows devices.
The March update also includes several other enhancements that Xbox users may have missed. The Xbox Adaptive Joystick, developed in collaboration with the Gaming and Disability Community, is now available for purchase exclusively at the Microsoft Store. This wired controller is designed primarily for players with limited mobility and can be seamlessly incorporated into existing gaming setups.
Rewards update and $3 Candy Crush gift card
Microsoft Rewards has been updated to make redeeming points easier, with the ability to find Rewards points and account balance on the left navigation menu in the Microsoft Store on console. Rewards members can now also get a $3 Candy Crush gift card, which comes with 48 hours of unlimited lives. See terms for more details.
Finally, Xbox Series X|S console owners can now choose from several new dynamic backgrounds, including Microsoft 50th Anniversary, Monster Hunter Wilds, Sea of Thieves: Megalodon, Sea of Thieves: Sunset, Split Fiction, Towerborne, and WWE 2K25.
How to Get Started with Game Pass Benefits
Accessing these new in-game benefits is straightforward. Current or new Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass members need to:
- Launch a participating game and sign in with their Xbox profile, or navigate to a participating game’s website and link their Xbox profile with their game account.
- Launch the participating game with Xbox on PC or console, and the benefits will be automatically available in-game.
With these substantial additions and improvements, Microsoft continues to enhance the value of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions while improving the overall Xbox gaming experience across console, PC, and cloud platforms. To find out if you’re eligible for these new in-game benefits, you can either check the eligibility table provided or visit the Xbox Support page for more detailed information. This will help ensure you understand all the requirements and how to access the benefits available with your Game Pass subscription.
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