Microsoft has confirmed that the popular platformer, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, will be joining Xbox Game Pass on August 8. This addition comes as part of a wave of new games for the subscription service, fulfilling the promise of more Activision titles since Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard.

The Acquisition and Expansion of Game Pass

After nearly two years of legal battles, Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard in October 2023 for $69 billion. Since then, there has been significant pressure on the company to add more of Activision’s popular games to Xbox Game Pass. Earlier this year, Microsoft confirmed that Diablo 4 would be added to the service, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in July.

With the increasing cost of Xbox Game Pass, subscribers are eager to see more high-profile games included in the service. The addition of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a welcome announcement, especially after rumors about its inclusion circulated last month. This confirmation was made via a recent Microsoft blog post.

August Additions to Xbox Game Pass

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is set to be available across cloud, console, and PC on August 8. This release will be part of a series of new games coming to Game Pass in August:

  1. Creatures of Ava (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X/S) – August 7
  2. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 8
  3. Mafia: Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 13

Creatures of Ava, a day-one release on Game Pass, is already receiving positive reviews from critics. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Mafia: Definitive Edition are both highly acclaimed remakes of classic games, adding to the excitement for Game Pass subscribers.

Departures from Game Pass

As new titles join the service, some games will also be leaving. On August 15, four games will be removed from Xbox Game Pass, including the popular horror game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Looking Ahead

The future of Xbox Game Pass looks promising with numerous new titles slated for 2024. However, some highly anticipated games, such as the day-one release of Avowed, have been delayed to February 2025. Nevertheless, with the addition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on day one and now the inclusion of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Mafia: Definitive Edition, it’s an exciting time to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber.

Final Thoughts

The addition of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy to Xbox Game Pass marks a significant expansion of the service’s library, particularly with Activision titles. Subscribers can look forward to a variety of new and classic games, enhancing the value of Microsoft’s increasingly popular gaming subscription service. Stay tuned for more updates and enjoy the new titles coming this August.

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