Microsoft has officially implemented Game Pass Standard, the recent mid-tier Netflix-like subscription service, has arrived, and with it has been revealed which games will be included at launch and which ones won’t. Among the missing ones are Call to duty: Modern War 3, Diablo IVand several other famed hits such as Star Field.
Announced earlier this summer, Game Pass Standard costs $15 per month and includes access to online multiplayer as well as a library of hundreds of games that can be downloaded and played on demand. The main difference between Game Pass Standard and Game Pass Ultimate, now the $20 per month versionis that the former will not include some library additions introduced on day one until up to 12 months later, and in some cases even longerThe most significant example is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6which will be available exclusively on Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass PC when it launches on October 25.
But the list of existing libraries for each level also reveals other discrepancies with games that have already appeared on the service. Modern War 3added last month, is conspicuously absent. As it is Diablo IVadded in spring with the recent expansion, Ship of Hatealready on October 8. EvaluationRiot Games’ champion shooter, which recently came to consoles, is free-to-play, but some characters are locked behind a paywall. The Game Pass version, which unlocks them all for free, is included in Ultimate, but not Standard.
There are also a few missing smaller games played during the day. FlintlockThe colonial-era Soulslike hit Game Pass in July, but it’s not included in the Standard library. It’s also not Another crab treasurea cartoonish Soulslike game that came out in April. It still evokes depthhorror walking sim that launched in June is also absent. It looks like a number of recent Game Pass Day One releases, including Microsoft’s own The Age of Mythology Retoldwill not be available in the Standard version anytime soon, even though it appeared on the service before the official split. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II there is neither, nor Star Field which was released over a year ago.
When will we see these games and others in the mid-tier? This is the most confusing part. There doesn’t seem to be a single standard approach at the moment, with all releases being spread out over the same number of months. Even Microsoft’s own releases seem to be coming to the Standard when they do. Indiana Jones and the Big Wheelfor example, it may not appear on Game Pass Standard until it comes to PS5 in the spring.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
