September is proving to be an exciting month for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, with a flurry of new additions to the game roster. A key highlight that caught everyone’s attention was the surprising early launch of the critically acclaimed but slightly controversial (at least on the PC), Lies of P. Officially slated for a September 19 release, Microsoft and Neowiz decided to treat the fans with early access, releasing it a day ahead on September 18.
Lies of P, developed by the South Korean studio Neowiz Games, offers players a unique blend of steampunk aesthetics with the story of Pinocchio. Players navigate through the once resplendent city of Krat, now ensnared in deceit, playing as Pinocchio and aiming to regain humanity. This story-centric action game offers multiple endings, ensuring that players are perpetually on their toes, bracing for the next challenge.
Following the lead of Lies of P are five more day-one games as a part of the “Wave 2” for Xbox Game Pass for the rest of September, spilling over to early October. The list includes the whimsical battle royale game, Party Animals, where a player can take on the avatars of various animals in a last-animal-standing combat, releasing on September 20. Then, a full decade since its predecessor, Payday 3 is finally arriving on September 21. Payday enthusiasts can now immerse in a high-stakes action-packed world, either adopting a stealthy approach or going guns blazing through heists across New York City.
/clears throat/ may we have your attentionhttps://t.co/yWSxQHqoLg pic.twitter.com/CfPNFQ7tcT
— Xbox Game Pass (@XboxGamePass) September 19, 2023
Additionally, Cocoon, releasing on September 29, promises an enigmatic puzzle experience that’s been brought to life by Jeppe Carlsen, the brain behind iconic games like Limbo and Inside. With “world-leaping” game mechanics, players can anticipate an intriguing gameplay experience.
October opens with the release of Gotham Knights and The Lamplighter’s League, both scheduled for October 3. Set in the iconic Gotham City, Gotham Knights invites players to an action RPG experience, while The Lamplighter’s League offers a globe-trotting adventure with strategic turn-based combat.
Ironically, at this point last year, one of the game’s developers criticized the Xbox Series S for its “potato gpu” all but blaming it for the game’s performance issues. This statement has since been echoed by recent events with Baldur’s Gate 3 and NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS.
While these additions have undoubtedly amped up the excitement, it’s also a season of goodbyes. On September 30, games like Beacon Pines, Despot’s Game, Last Call BBS, Moonscars, Outriders, Prodeus, and Weird West will be leaving the Game Pass library.
Notably, the variety of titles being added to the Xbox Game Pass library reinforces its appeal, offering a mix of action-adventure, RPGs, first-person shooters, party brawlers, and the increasingly popular soulslike games. This diversification, coupled with the surprise early-access releases, affirms Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing the user experience for its subscribers.
This month also witnessed Microsoft making significant changes to its subscription models. The Xbox Live Gold has now been replaced with the Xbox Game Pass Core membership tier, launched on September 14. Priced at $9.99 monthly or $59.99 annually, it extends access to Xbox multiplayer gaming, a library boasting over 35 games, and exclusive member deals.
With this latest wave of releases, Microsoft has once again solidified the Xbox Game Pass’s reputation as essential service to the Xbox and PC.
As September progresses, it will be interesting to see what other surprises Microsoft has in store, especially with the forthcoming Tokyo Game Show event on September 21.
