Updated January 9, 2019: Microsoft announced that more Xbox Game Pass games for January will be announced later this month. This isn't the complete list. Just Cause 3 and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 launched on January 9 instead of January 10.
Recently, Life Is Strange and Life Is Strange: Before the Storm joined Xbox Game Pass on Xbox One. There were also surprises like Ashen and Below. However, a few days ago Xbox executive Mike Ybarra said that January's game line-up for the service was "awesome" and that generated a lot of excitement for what is to come.
Today, Microsoft revealed which titles are joining Xbox Game Pass in January 2019. The highlights have to be Absolver, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Life Is Strange 2. Xbox Wire detailed the titles in a post this morning.
Life Is Strange 2: Part 1
Life Is Strange 2 is a new adventure with new characters and the prevailing themes of friendship, family, and mystery the series has come to be known for. The game follows the path of two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, as they are forced to flee from their home after an unexplainable and tragic event. Episodes 2 to 5 are coming to Xbox Game Pass soon too.
Life is Strange 2: Part 1 should join Xbox Game Pass on January 3.
Ark: Survival Evolved
Ark: Survival Evolved is the dinosaur-themed survival game which still doesn't run that well on Xbox One. Ever wanted to run around on a mysterious, futuristic island full of giant dinosaurs? You'll have to craft, hunt, and survive against not only the ferocious local wildlife, but the hundreds of other players as well all in the hopes of escaping the shores of this deadly island.
Ark: Survival Evolved should join Xbox Game Pass on January 3.
Farming Simulator 17
It's time to live out your dream as a farmer, but without that whole, getting dirt under your fingernails business. In Farming Simulator 17, you have access to over 250 vehicles and equipment to help harvest a variety of crops, take care of livestock, and then sell your goods to your local market and continue to expand your farming empire.
Farming Simulator 17 should join Xbox Game Pass on January 3.
Absolver
Absolver is finally coming to Xbox One! Live out a life as a martial arts expert focused on a variety of fighting skills, weapon knowledge, and hand-to-hand combat in the competitive, online world. The goal is to journey across forsaken lands and come face to face with others like you, learning new combat skills, obtaining new weapons, gear, and armor along the way.
Absolver should join Xbox Game Pass on January 7.
Just Cause 3
Just Cause 3 is all about destruction. Cause chaos on a massive scale to take down a Mediterranean island's evil dictator. Return as Rico Rodriguez in the third entry of this awesome open-world action game that lets you skydive, swoop across mountain ranges, hijack vehicles, and experiment in all sorts of unique ways.
Just Cause 3 should join Xbox Game Pass on January 10.
Aftercharge
With teamwork at its core, Aftercharge forces two teams of three players to compete against one another – one must sneak across the battlefield to shatter six cylinders, the other is completely invincible, armed to the teeth, and must stop that from happening.
Aftercharge should join Xbox Game Pass on January 10.
A lot of these games, especially Absolver and Ark: Survival Evolved, are phenomenal despite the latter's performance issues. Be sure to check them out if you're a subscriber. Xbox Game Pass is a monthly subscription service that gives Xbox One owners access to over a hundred games for $9.99 each month. It's similar to Netflix where certain games — like Microsoft exclusives — will stay there forever and experiences from third-party developers rotate in and out.
Since the service launched, many gamers have been asking Microsoft how many subscribers it has. While usually the company doesn't comment on sales figures, during an interview between Head of Xbox Phil Spencer and LevelUp, he revealed a general count. There are "millions of subscribers" already.
