Xbox Game Pass isn’t slowing down anytime soon. With Outbound and Subnautica 2 leading the charge this week, subscribers are getting a blend of brutal action, deep survival gameplay and cozy exploration – alongside a handful of Day One launches arriving across cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC.
And while the incoming lineup is undeniably strong, a few fan favourites are also preparing to leave the service on May 15th.
At A Glance
- Outbound – May 11th (Day One) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass – Cloud, Console, PC
- Black Jacket – May 12th (Day One) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass – Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC
- Call of the Elder Gods – May 12th (Day One) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass – Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC
- Elite Dangerous – May 12th – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium – Cloud, Console
- DOOM: The Dark Ages – May 14th – Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass – Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC
- Subnautica 2 (Game Preview) – May 14th (Day One) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass – Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC
Outbound Starts The Week With A Cozy Road Trip
Arriving Day One on May 11th, Outbound feels like the calmer side of this week’s Game Pass refresh. Playable across cloud, console and PC, the game drops players into a colourful open world where survival is less about danger and more about building a sustainable life on the road.
Starting with little more than an empty camper van, you’ll gradually transform it into a fully customisable moving home powered by solar, wind or water energy. Farming, crafting and exploration all play a role, while online co-op allows up to four players to travel together.
It’s cozy, creative and looks perfectly positioned for players wanting something slower-paced between all the chaos elsewhere this week. This is a game we’ve been looking forward to. Stay tuned for our review.
Strange Worlds And Dark Deals Await
May 12th introduces a trio of wildly different experiences, each bringing its own distinct flavour to Game Pass.
Black Jacket arrives Day One with a concept that’s immediately eye-catching – a blackjack-inspired roguelike deckbuilder set in a hellish afterlife. Using special cards, artifacts and curses, players manipulate the rules of the table to build increasingly absurd combinations while attempting to escape eternal damnation.
Meanwhile, Call of the Elder Gods pushes into more narrative territory. Developed by the creators of Call of the Sea, this puzzle-focused adventure blends cosmic horror, mystery and emotional storytelling as two protagonists investigate disturbing events tied to Miskatonic University. Expect richly detailed environments, layered puzzles and a heavy Lovecraftian atmosphere throughout.
Then there’s Elite Dangerous, which joins Game Pass Ultimate and Premium on cloud and console. Even years after launch, its scale remains staggering, recreating the Milky Way at near-unimaginable proportions while allowing players to carve out their own story through exploration, combat, mining, trading and multiplayer encounters.
DOOM And Subnautica 2 Turn Up The Intensity
By May 14th, the tone shifts.
DOOM: The Dark Ages expands into Game Pass Premium while remaining part of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, bringing its brutal medieval-inspired combat to cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC.
Serving as a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, this latest entry throws the Slayer into a dark fantasy war against Hell itself. New weapons, larger environments and over-the-top spectacle are all part of the package, alongside dragons, mechs and the gloriously violent action the series is known for.
Launching alongside it is one of the week’s biggest Day One arrivals – Subnautica 2. Just be aware, this is not a full launch.
Entering Game Preview across cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC, this next chapter in the survival series introduces a brand-new alien world to explore. Players can tackle it solo or in online co-op with up to three friends, building bases, crafting equipment and diving deep beneath the surface in search of answers.
As with the original Subnautica, the balance between wonder and terror looks set to remain fully intact.
Leaving Game Pass Soon
While new arrivals dominate the headlines, several games will be departing Game Pass on May 15th.
- Galacticare (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Go Mecha Ball (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Planet of Lana (Cloud, Console, and PC)
With this latest Game Pass refresh you’ll be building a cozy camper van, bargaining your way through hell, fighting demons in medieval battlefields and diving into alien oceans.
Variety has always been one of Game Pass’ biggest strengths, and this week might be one of the clearest examples of that yet. As always, let us know what you’ll be playing.
