Xbox Game Pass has added Aliens: Dark Descent to its content catalog. This is the ninth new title to reach the subscription service in November 2024 and the 132nd Xbox Game Pass addition since the turn of the year.
Developed by Paris-based studio Tindalos Interactive, Aliens: Dark Descent is a real-time tactics game set in 2198, 19 years following the events of Alien 3. Released in late June 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, it debuted to "Very Positive" Steam user reviews and received a decent critical reception.
Aliens: Dark Descent Review
While Aliens: Dark Descent struggles against some of its own choices and troublesome bugs, a compelling, strategic experience awaits beyond.
A year and a half later, Aliens: Dark Descent reached Microsoft's subscription service on Wednesday, November 27. This addition concludes the second wave of the November 2024 Xbox Game Pass lineup. Since it's not a day-one release, Aliens: Dark Descent has been made available across all non-Core tiers of the service. Anyone paying for XGP Ultimate is also able to stream the real-time tactics game via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
As is the case with most Xbox Game Pass titles, Microsoft's subscribers only have access to the base game. Its single piece of DLC, the Lethe Recon Pack, is priced at $3.59 after the $0.40 XGP discount is taken into account. The add-on includes a unique feline companion and the Black Camo Armor Set, thus being far from required for enjoying the game.
Alien Franchise Has Been Missing From Xbox Game Pass Since Early 2023
This arrival marks the return of the Alien franchise to Microsoft's subscription service, which has been missing the series since Alien: Isolation left Xbox Game Pass at the end of February 2023. Prior to that, third-person shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite was also part of Microsoft's on-demand content catalog over a year-long period ending December 2022. Aliens: Dark Descent is expected to be available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers for at least a year, not least because it's extremely rare to see titles leave the service in under 12 months. XGP members should hence have plenty of time to finish it, as the game's campaign is roughly 25 hours long. Meanwhile, a completionist playthrough of Aliens: Dark Descent takes around 60 hours, according to HowLongToBeat's crowdsourced data.
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
Game | Date Added | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Aliens: Dark Descent | Nov 27 | Standard, Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | |
Overthrown (Game Preview) | Dec 5 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud(?), PC, Series X/S | Day-one release |
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | Dec 9 | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | ||
Avowed | Feb 18 | Cloud(?), PC, Series X/S | ||
Atomfall | Mar 27 | Cloud(?), Console, PC |
The first wave of the December 2024 Xbox Game Pass lineup is expected to be revealed next week. Since Microsoft historically favors Tuesdays for such announcements, the new release roster may be confirmed on December 3. One title that's bound to be part of the upcoming lineup is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which has long been confirmed as a day-one Xbox Game Pass release and is on course to hit the market on December 9. Before any of that happens, Xbox Game Pass is set to lose nine titles on November 30.