Xbox Game Pass January 2017 Small Image

Xbox Game Pass: NBA Playgrounds, Injustice, Devil May Cry 4 and $1 Game Pass for Limited Time

Hello, fellow gamers! Welcome to your January Xbox Game Pass update.

With the New Year just around the corner, we’re excited to share the latest catalog additions coming to Xbox Game Pass starting on January 1.

At Xbox Game Pass, more is better, and to that note, we’re kicking off 2018 by adding 10 titles to the catalog! In addition to the over 100 great games already included in your Xbox Game Pass membership, you can look forward to playing NBA Playgrounds, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Devil May Cry 4 SE, Xbox Original Fuzion Frenzy, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, Deadlight: Director’s Cut, Zoo Tycoon, WRC 5: World Rally Championships, Bayonetta, and Tecmo Bowl Throwback are all available January 1.

In addition to the great catalog additions coming January 1, from December 21 to January 4, new members can take advantage of a special, limited-time introductory offer and join Xbox Game Pass for $1! That’s unlimited access to over 100 great games on Xbox One for just $1.

December is also about the Season of Giving. This holiday the Xbox team has partnered with GameChangers, a non-profit who helps to positively impact the lives of children facing threatening illnesses. For every Xbox Game Pass membership purchased between December 21 and January 4, Xbox will donate $10 to hospitals around the world. Find out more here. With the holidays upon us, there has never been a better time to jump into Xbox Game Pass.

Let’s learn more about the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in January:

NBA Playgrounds
Toss it up and throw it down! NBA Playgrounds is joining Xbox Game Pass this January and we could not be more excited to jump into the fast-paced, high-flying action. Saber Interactive has created an incredibly fun and addictive arcade experience with Playgrounds, which includes all 30 NBA franchises (and the Supersonics!) and an incredibly deep (and dare we say nostalgic) stable of over 300 current and former NBA players.

Complete challenges as you conquer tournament mode to earn new courts and card packs. Test your skills head-to-head in exhibition or online mode and grind out upgrades for your player cards. Or take a moment to polish your shooting stroke in the 3-point contest. With a ton of modes and content out of the gate, and the big Hot n’ Frosty DLC on sale now in the Microsoft Store — including new NBA players, like Lonzo Ball and Dennis Smith Jr., and secondary team options for a wide range of NBA players — there just might be more fun here than you can shake a stick at.

Injustice: Gods Among Us
Superhero fans rejoice! January delivers one of the most engaging fighting games of the 360 generation in Warner Bros.’ Injustice: Gods Among Us. Experience a complex saga in story mode, or choose from one of 24 legendary DC characters, including Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman and defeat all opponents either solo, online, or through local play for some old school, couch competition. With a stacked roster, a deep stable of moves and specials, and the same familiar fighting mechanics as NetherRealm’s other smash fighting franchise, Mortal Kombat, Injustice can’t help but impress. And, if you have a great time playing Injustice in Xbox Game Pass, we think you are going love Injustice 2, available today in the Microsoft Store!

Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition
January also sees the addition of Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition, the final installment in Capcom’s exciting hack-n-slash franchise — this is most decidedly not a button masher. If you’ve played any of the previous Devil May Cry games, then you know DmC requires a challenging mix of strategic defense and powerful attacks. Combat grand enemies, solve puzzles, and collect items as you seek to topple the Order of the Sword. If you’ve played Devil May Cry HD in Xbox Game Pass, get ready for even more excitement in Devil May Cry 4: Special Edition.

Fuzion Frenzy
Break out your party pants because Fuzion Frenzy, an Xbox Original and one of the greatest party games ever to grace the platform, is coming to Xbox Game Pass in January. Released on Xbox One in October through the Backward Compatibility program, Fuzion Frenzy delivers four-player action across more than 40 different mini-games. Choose from one of six characters and jump into Mini-Game Frenzy mode or take on Tournament mode and compete for the right to conquer each zone and reign supreme over your friends as the Fuzion Frenzy champion. Fuzion Frenzy may not be one of the newest games you’ll find in Xbox Game Pass, but we think you’ll find it to be one of the most fun. Enjoy!

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
In November, we were thrilled to bring Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to Xbox Game Pass. So many of our members have jumped in to play MGS V for the first time, and many others took the opportunity to revisit the incredible experience of that game. Now, we’re giving members a chance to learn more about what led to The Phantom Pain’s storyline with the addition of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Set in 1975, just after the conclusion of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, you resume the role of Snake and are tasked with rescuing two key hostages from Camp Omega. With seven intense missions to play through, Ground Zeroes is a relatively short campaign, but one that is long on action and suspense.

Deadlight: Director’s Cut
Seattle, 1986. You are Randall Wayne, zombie apocalypse survivor and a man on a mission to find his family. This is the gritty plot behind Deadlight: Director’s Cut, Tequila Works’ incredibly engaging cinematic survival platformer. Zombies are known as Shadows in Deadlight, and it’s up to you to guide Randall through the infested streets of Seattle. The Shadows can be defeated, but combat comes with a great risk of death in Deadlight, so be cautious in deciding when you taunt them into battle. Collect hidden items as you move through the story and learn more about Randall, his family, and the tragedy that has befallen this apocalyptic purgatory.

Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection
Do you ever get the urge to stroll through a beautiful zoo, taking in stunning creatures hailing from all over the globe? If so, you’re in luck, because the recently re-released Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection is about to land in Xbox Game Pass. Fully remastered in 4K with HDR support, Zoo Tycoon has added a host of new animals from Australia and South America. Rooted in the same spirit as the original Zoo Tycoon from 2001, there’s never been a better time to enjoy the rich visuals and variety of activities Zoo Tycoon Ultimate Animal Collection has to offer.

WRC 5: World Rally Championship
Racing fans, we’ve got something great coming to Xbox Game Pass for you this month as well! WRC 5: World Rally Championship, a thrilling rally racing game featuring over 50 officially licensed teams and drivers, also comes to Xbox Game Pass this January. With stages from 13 different countries, WRC 5 is a deep experience that offers a ton of challenge while remaining very accessible and fun for the more casual rally racers among us. Jump in the driver’s seat and kick up some mud as you begin your own rally racing dynasty!

Bayonetta
If you’re a fan of Devil May Cry or other hack-n-slash games, January is twice as nice because Sega’s classic hit Bayonetta is joining the Xbox Game Pass catalog as well! Take on the role of Bayonetta, a shapeshifting witch with dual sidearms and hair that carries the ability to eat angels. Yes, angels. Bayonetta has awoken with no memory, but she sure can fight. Combat in Bayonetta is top notch, tasking you with using a combination of kicks, punches, and weapon strikes to take down foes large and small (and there are some very large enemies in this adventure). Put together the perfect combo and watch it unfold on your enemy’s face. Use your Xbox Game Pass membership to fight your way through all 16 chapters of this incredible saga in 2018!

Tecmo Bowl Throwback
Finally, we are pumped to add Tecmo Bowl Throwback to Xbox Game Pass in January. Throwback stays true to its roots, with the same exciting, top-down arcade experience as Tecmo Super Bowl, arguably the greatest arcade football game of all time. Throwback rosters are fully customizable so you’re just a little elbow grease away from building out your favorite pro, college, or dream football team.With over 100 great games, for just $9.99 a month, plus new games added every month, Xbox Game Pass is your ticket to endless play. Thanks for reading January’s Xbox Game Pass update, and don’t forget, you can start your Xbox Game Pass membership for just $1 between December 21 – January 4.

For all the latest Xbox news, keep it locked to Xbox Wire. Until next month, game on!