While I've been a dedicated PC gamer for years, relying on Steam sales to keep my game library fresh, I never felt the pull of Xbox Game Pass—until now. Microsoft's Game Pass has always been on my radar, but it was the surprise releases of *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* and *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* that finally convinced me to take the plunge.
Bethesda and Virtuos pulled off a stunning move by shadow-dropping *Oblivion Remastered* straight onto Game Pass. Although it was a poorly kept secret, the impact was no less exhilarating. The remaster hit PC, consoles, and Game Pass simultaneously on April 22, and I, like many others, spent the day downloading and the night immersed in its revamped world. The remaster boasts new character models, enhanced combat interactions, and polished VFX. Despite the addition of new voice actors, the charm of the original's quirky dialogue remains intact. Priced at $49.99 for the base edition, which includes all the original DLCs, the deluxe edition is just $10 more.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered Screenshots
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Then there's *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33*, the eagerly awaited debut from French studio Sandfall Interactive. Launching tonight at 12am PST in the U.S., it's already scoring a 92 on Metacritic, with IGN giving it a glowing 9/10 review, lauding its story design and calling it "a true modern throwback." The game's sleek UI evokes the *Persona* series, while its turn-based combat system is one of the most innovative I've seen. Priced at $49.99, it matches the cost of *Oblivion Remastered*.
Although *Expedition 33* was set to be the star of April's Game Pass lineup, *Oblivion Remastered*'s surprise release has cast a bit of a shadow over its launch. From my perspective, however, this is a win-win situation. With Game Pass, I can enjoy both titles for the price of a single month's subscription at $20, rather than shelling out $100 for two new games. Now, the only challenge is finding time to step away from my screen.
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 the full spread of *Call of Duty*. Truly, there's something for everyone.Game Pass Is a Ridiculously Good Deal Right Now
Game Pass Ultimate, starting at $19.99 per month, provides access to the entire Game Pass library across console, PC, and cloud gaming. The PC-only version is more budget-friendly at $9.99 per month. The Standard and Core tiers, at $14.99 and $9.99 per month respectively, don't include day-one releases. The last price increase was in July 2024, and with the caliber of games being added, I wouldn't be surprised if another hike is on the horizon.
Currently, there aren't any live Game Pass deals, but opting for a three-month subscription could shield you from future price increases. For deals on other platforms, check out our roundup of PS5, PC, and Switch offers. And don't forget, U.S. preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live tonight.
