Xbox Game Pass adds Red Dead Redemption 2, loses Grand Theft Auto V

Xbox Game Pass gets a significant shake-up to its Xbox One library as it swaps out Grand Theft Auto V for Red Dead Redemption 2 on May 7. GTA V’s exit comes suddenly, as it was only added to the subscription service on January 3. Players will have two weeks to wrap up any dirty work that Trevor, Franklin, and Michael have to finish in Los Santos. Alternatively, they can purchase a copy of the game, which is still a top-selling title nearly seven years after release, to continue their Grand Theft Auto Online adventure. Game Pass members can get GTA V for 20% off, putting it at $24 for the base game. Premium bundles and Shark Cards for its multiplayer mode are similarly discounted. Softening the blow of GTA V’s departure after just four months on Game Pass comes with the addition of Red Dead Redemption 2 on the same day. Players can explore the Wild West on horseback as troubled outlaw Arthur Morgan attempts to define his legacy. Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play Red Dead Online as well, which allows players to carve out their own path with many lawful and illegal career opportunities. Red Dead Redemption 2, which came out in October 2018, is the latest Rockstar release followed a month later by a beta of its online multiplayer mode. The full Red Dead Online experience came out in May 2019, and recent updates to the open-world action game include an in-depth photo mode and several story mode missions. Those that sold their copies after completing the game might want to jump back in to take on new bounty hunter tasks and its “To the Ends of the Earth” mission. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the latest high-profile game to join Xbox Game Pass, which includes over 200 Xbox One titles and all of Microsoft’s first-party offerings. A standard subscription for console or PC costs $10, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which bundles Xbox Live Gold, costs $15 a month. A single month of Ultimate is available for $1, but the price jumps back up after the discounted trial period ends. Xbox isn’t giving Game Pass players a moment to breathe in 2025 with all the upcoming Xbox Series X games on the horizon. Even before we get to new titles like Avowed or Civilization 7 next month, we have more than enough new games to play on Game Pass to keep us busy, including big day-one releases. This weekend in particular is full of amazing options no matter what mood you’re in or genre you like. No doubt you’ve been trying to plan out how you will divide up your time once the big February games come along, but we can take care of recommending you the best 3 new Game Pass games to keep you entertained this weekend.
Eternal Strands
You wouldn’t guess it from looking at the footage, but Eternal Strands is the first project from a new indie studio that just arrived on Game Pass as a day-one release. You play as a Weaver named Brynn who has the power to manipulate both the environment and temperature to face off against larger-than-life creatures. This game is all about dynamic interactions and emergent gameplay as every element and object behaves as it would in the natural world. Fire will spread, ice will slow enemies, and rocks will shatter as you launch them with your telekinetic powers. Your creativity will be rewarded both in combat and exploration. There’s a heavy Shadow of the Colossus vibe with the giant enemies here that you can scale to get a better angle of attack. If you love experimenting with systems in a third-person action RPG with a cool art style, this is the perfect sandbox to play in. Both Sniper Elite: Resistance and Citizen Sleeper 2 are making their way to Game Pass before the end of the month, along with a slew of other must-play titles. Although games come and go from the service, Game Pass rarely adds as many notable games at once as it has this month. January is host to several day-one releases, as well as several updates and DLC that promise to change up your most-played games.
Sniper Elite: Resistance — January 30
Few games can compare themselves to the Sniper Elite franchise in terms of gameplay. Combining stealth and tactical combat, Sniper Elite: Resistance isn’t just a sniping sim. You’ll have to think carefully about your targets and find the right way to line up your shot without being targeted.
Citizen Sleeper 2 — January 31
The original Citizen Sleeper was one heck of an RPG, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector builds on that formula with an amnesiac android with a busted body. Find a ship, find a crew, keep flying. It’s like cyborg Firefly, kind of — and that’s incredibly exciting.
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders — January 21
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is a follow up to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a Trials-like experience that has you master the mountain trails on skis, racing against other players in online multiplayer or trying to set the best time possible. Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders is available today on Game Pass.
Flock — January 22 A lot of long-awaited video games will finally release in 2025. But don’t let them be the only ones to grab your attention this year. If all goes according to plan, 2025 will contain the launches of Nintendo’s Switch successor, Metroid Prime 4:Beyond, and Grand Theft Auto VI. Other high-profile games like Elden Ring: Neightreign, Doom: The Dark Ages, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Ghost of Yotei flesh out Digital Trends’ most anticipated games of 2025 list. It’s likely that these AAA adventures, and whatever Nintendo decides to deliver with its new console, will dominate gaming conversations throughout the year.