After a mixed first half of the year, it finally seems as though things are looking up forXbox Game Pass. After a few months of lackluster additions, Xbox Game Pass is starting to ramp up its output a bit more, with a good few day-one titles heading to the service in July. While the heavy hitter this month isCapcom’s new dinosaur co-op exosuit shooterExoprimal, Xbox Game Pass has also just confirmed thatMaquette, originally a PlayStation Plus-exclusive, is heading to the service later this month.
On top of those day-one titles,Xbox Game Pass' July 2023 new gamesalso include a few fun little indies such asThe Cave,Techtonica,Arcade Paradise, andThe Wandering Village. But by far the biggest third-party title on Xbox Game Pass this July is none other than Rockstar’s juggernaut release,Grand Theft Auto 5, withGTA Onlinepaired right alongside it. It might not be the newest game on the market, butGTA 5is still one of the best, and it may have just won Xbox Game Pass the Summer.
RELATED:The Best Games On Xbox Game Pass (July 2023)
Getting GTA 5 Might Have Won Xbox Game Pass the Summer
The Summer months are such an important time in the gaming ecosphere. At the start of the Summer, big events like E3 – or Summer Game Fest nowadays – unveil new games that fans can look forward to, with every big publisher out there getting time in the spotlight. This is usually followed by a fairly big release period, with June usually being packed with new games. This year was no different, withStreet Fighter 6,Diablo 4, andFinal Fantasy 16all releasing in June. Then the industry tends to slow down a little for July and August. With many developers gearing up to release their games in September and October, these middle Summer months are the proverbial calm before the storm, and they’re the perfect opportunity for a service like Xbox Game Pass.
It’s in this brief moment of downtime that Xbox Game Pass can really shine, and that’s exactly what it’s done by gettingGrand Theft Auto 5.GTA 5has already had quite an extensive history with Xbox Game Pass. Back in January 2020,GTA 5was added to Xbox Game Pass and taken away just a few months later in May, and then returned in April 2021 until August. But after two whole years of waiting,GTA 5is finally back on Xbox Game Pass, and fans should jump on it while they can.
PlayStation Plus, on the other hand, has had a pretty solid last few months.June’s PlayStation Plus line-upsaw some big titles hit the service, includingFar Cry 6,Rogue Legacy 2,TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, andInscryption. And this month, PlayStation Plus is giving fansIt Takes Two,Sniper Elite 5, andUndertale, among others. But while PlayStation Plus' July line-up is pretty good, none of those games are quite on the same level asGrand Theft Auto 5.
MORE:If It Gets a Battle Pass, The Sims 5 Should Take an Overwatch 2 Approach
