Gamers, treat yourself this month to some incredible gaming experiences with your EA Play* membership!

When you’re done watching your favorite football team defeat their rivals on TV, you can keep the heart-pumping moments by booting up your console to launch a perfect bomb downfield for a game-changing touchdown in EA Sports College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25. With EA Play game trials, you can keep the game going and dominate the gridiron for up to 10 hours. Love the game? Save 10% on a full game download with your progress carried over, and add to your lineup with monthly Ultimate Team Packs.

In addition to these titles, EA Play offers trials of up to 10 hours for many other favorite games, including EA Sports NHL 25, EA Sports FC 25, EA Sports UFC 5 and EA Sports F1 24. And there’s even more gaming to experience when you’re done with trials! EA Play members can jump into an unrivaled collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, including Madden NFL 24, EA Sports FC 24 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

EA Play members can also score monthly rewards on select titles, including 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content including game downloads, Season Passes, Madden Points and more. This month’s member benefits include:

• Apex Legends Golden Demon Weapon Charm – Now to December 2
• Battlefield 2042 Sanguine Impact – Now to November 26
• EA Sports F1 24 5000 XP Boost – Now to November 30
• EA Sports College Football 25 Loyalist Ultimate Team Pack – Now to November 30
• Madden NFL 25 MUT Pack – Now to November 30
• EA Sports FC 25 Powered Right Leg Tattoo & Clubs Coins – Now to November 28
• EA Sports FC 25 Football Ultimate Team Draft Token– Now to December 14
• EA Sports NHL 25 3000 CHEL Coins – Now to December 5
• EA Sports NHL 25 WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier Tokens – Now to December 5

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription. Members can experience the world of EA with unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards and more.

Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on, Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.

_{*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/eaplay/US/en/PC/ for details.}

As I cowered in the rafters of an abandoned farmhouse, my mind reckons with the type of game that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is going to be. My torch is switched off, both my pistol and my stomach are empty. Beneath me, a gunfight plays out in the darkness, and gruff, Ukrainian voices echo over the wind. I tuck into a tin of suspicious looking meat and wait it out. Some moments pass, and silence falls across the dark field. I deem it safe enough to apprehensively venture out and pick at the bodies for scraps, torch still off. In that moment, I am unceremoniously mauled to pieces by mutant dogs. 

Let me preface that I am not a particular fan of hard nor scary games, so meeting this fate less than 30 minutes into S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 really set a scorned tone that I believed would be unshakeable. And how wrong I was.

“So that is how it’s going to be,” I whisper out loud to myself. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a tough-as-boots, first-person survival affair that follows the premise of predecessors in the Stalker series. As new protagonist Skif, the game begins with you entering an alternate recreation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, or “The Zone”, home to  a myriad of strange and horrifying phenomena. Skif, a Stalker that has ventured into The Zone in pursuit of artifacts, valuable items that can aid in survival or sold for a hefty price. Unfortunately, a lot of other unsavoury characters are also on the hunt for artifacts, so Skif’s journey quickly takes a turn inside The Zone.

Exploring The Zone

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is an open world affair, in which you’re expected to fend for yourself in brutal and unpredictable situations, where basically any living thing you come across can and will hurt you. For those unfamiliar with the series, it is paramount to stay prepared – as with any survival game, you’ll need to constantly be on the hunt for weapon ammo, medical supplies and food. Not to mention, this entire habitat is one giant, quarantined hazard, brimming with monsters, environmental anomalies and of course, radiation. 

However, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 does not present its horrors like a horror game. Within the boundaries of The Zone, the creatures you’ll encounter, the hostile personalities, and the desperation you’ll often face are all an inalienable normality – this just how it is. Life in this area isn’t some nightmare that inhabitants have just woken up in, it is, for better or worse, a choice that many Stalkers make, and that is a particularly unique, complex and compelling setting to unravel.

Visually, The Zone feels like a true labour of love to developer GSC’s home, and it looks wonderful. Brash European architecture looms authoritatively over eerily beautiful fields and forests, decimated by tragedy but still holding firm. The surprisingly large map rivals adjacent open-world epics, and, in spite of the nuclear nightmares that lurk within, remains consistently inviting to explore.

However, I found the duality of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 really kicks in between its day and night cycles, with the latter creating the most permeating sense of dread I’ve experienced in game of this ilk for a long time. By daylight, The Zone is quite welcoming, threats are highly visible, and venturing out at dawn with a bag full of supplies is a relatively serene, even exciting experience.

But tension rises as soon as the sky starts to darken – everything I’m doing in that moment is uprooted as I consider what is coming, and how prepared I am for it. The game wastes no time introducing you to the unforgiving perils of the night during the prologue, and it is truly an exhilarating experience to face such consequences, especially earlier in the game when supplies and funds are scarce. Later on, darkness will become your ally if you’re equipped to handle it (and the powerful mutants hiding within it) but during those first few hours, it’s an experience like nothing else.

Friends and Foes

Throughout The Zone, you’ll encounter new characters with varying degrees of importance to your story, and in true roleplaying fashion, you can often decide that yourself. In one mission, I’m tasked with collecting a debt from someone, only to find him holed up in a house by bandits. Like me, they’re here to collect a debt. I try appealing to the common ground, but they’re not very nice about it, and so I dispose of them. In many moments like this, I’m given the option to proceed diplomatically, snarkily, or just open fire without cause and take the spoils by force. The latter can of course, come with consequences, but the freedom to decide upon your own levels of morality and violence make for an excellent roleplaying experience in this world.

One additional aspect that I didn’t expect was the dry humour that characters often exhibit in dialogues, which is heightened substantially by the vocal performances given in GSC’s native Ukrainian. Even in safe areas such as settlements or bars, character interactions often carry a perpetual air of tension or rigidity, as though conflict could kick off at any moment, that dissipates into banter as you, and they, conclude that there is no immediate threat. This harks back to my earlier point about how “normal” this landscape feels to the characters that inhabit it, and the horrors they’ll take in their stride, often humorously, on a daily basis.

Early on the game, for example I’m sent to retrieve an artifact from a perilous cave spewing toxic gas and mulch into the air. It also happens to be housing some sort of mutant monster that catches me by surprise and takes most of my supplies to deal with. When I return to the quest giver and ask “hey, what gives?”, he calmly takes a moment to light up a cigarette, enjoys a drag, and nonchalantly say “well, you wouldn’t have gone if I’d told you.” It’s interactions like this that make NPCs, even for a moment, an entirely believable part of this world, and I’d recommend playing through the game in Ukrainian for that extra level of immersion to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s already impressive setting.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s greatest strength lies in its ability to craft a haunting survival experience that doesn’t have to dip into the occult unnecessarily. While the phenomena lurking inside The Zone leans into the science fiction realm, the horrors and anomalies remain entirely believable within the bounds of the alternate Chornobyl that GSC World has built. 

It is however, a thoroughly unforgiving world that will challenge, thwart and reward you in equal measure, and, as I reckoned with what type of game S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was going to be after being decimated by radioactive dogs, I could not have predicted that the conclusion would be “my type of game.” Who knows, it might be yours too.

Fortunately, you can find out – S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl launches today on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and you can play it day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Xbox Edition

GSC Game World

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is the unforgiving FPS survival adventure in a dark science-fiction open world. Scavenge for gear and resources, hunt for wonders, make hard decisions to survive and pave the path through the Chornobyl Anomalous Zone.

Genshin Impact, the open-world adventure RPG, has officially arrived on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming, launching alongside Version 5.2 “Tapestry of Spirit and Flame.” Travelers can now begin or continue their journey through the world of Teyvat on Xbox, experiencing the latest stories and gameplay updates, along with exclusive, limited-time rewards! Plus, Game Pass Ultimate members can begin to claim recurring bonuses that will come with every major version update from here on out. Read on for all the details.

An Immersive Adventure on Xbox

As a Traveler from another world, your journey begins in the visually stunning and culturally rich world of Teyvat. In search of your long-lost sibling, you’ll explore the seven major nations of Teyvat, each with its unique landscapes, history, people, creatures, mysteries, and gameplay.

Xbox Series X|S is now ready to bring this massive fantasy world to life with vivid details, offering world-class console experiences, where players can enjoy HDR support on both consoles and 4K resolution on the Xbox Series X. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate members can play on a variety of devices they already own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Special Bonuses for Xbox

Special rewards are also available for Xbox players. Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 2 will receive the “Wings of Fate’s Course Intertwined” as a gift in their in-game mailbox upon logging into Genshin Impact on Xbox.

Furthermore, Game Pass Ultimate members can enjoy special bonuses, with recurring rewards available with each major version update. These rewards can be claimed from your in-game mailbox, starting today with a bundle of useful items:

• Intertwined Fate ×2
• Northlander Billet Trove ×1
• Hero’s Wit ×10
• Mora ×100,000
• Mystic Enhancement Ore ×15

Please note that rewards will be subject to change with future updates.

Play Genshin Impact Your Way

Genshin Impact offers a vast world, and the journey is yours to shape. The seven Elements that flow throughout the world are key to defeating powerful enemies, solving challenging puzzles, reaching various locations, and uncovering the rich lore of Teyvat. By triggering Elemental Reactions — combining specific elemental effects on targets — you can deal extra damage or affect your surroundings in creative ways.

The world of Genshin Impact is constantly evolving, with new landscapes, playable characters, stories, events, and diverse gameplay styles being introduced regularly. In addition to world exploration and Story Quests, players can enjoy limited-time challenges, mini-games, and long-term gameplay like card games and housing systems. Meanwhile, you can journey alongside over 90 playable characters, each with unique abilities and personalities.

While Genshin Impact offers an immersive single-player experience, you can also team up with friends for multiplayer adventures. The game supports cross-play and cross-progression across platforms including Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Android, iOS, and the Epic Games Store. The game now supports 15 text languages and 4 voice-over languages, allowing players to enjoy it in their preferred language.

Fly and Play Like Dragons

This summer, Genshin Impact introduced its sixth major nation, Natlan, where humans coexist with powerful local dragons known as Saurians. Known as the Nation of War, Natlan offers unique gameplay opportunities, allowing you to recruit elite warriors or transform into Saurians to enhance your movement abilities — whether it’s swimming swiftly through liquid and lava, soaring through the air, burrowing underground, or scaling cliff walls.

With the release of Version 5.2, new Saurian companions and powerful warriors Chasca and Ororon are introduced, along with the tribes and lands they hail from. Soon, you’ll command the power of skies to move and fight in mid-air, and explore an ancient, ruined city that towers into the clouds.

Genshin Impact is now available on Xbox, with more waiting for you to discover in the world of Teyvat. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

Genshin Impact

COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Genshin Impact is an open-world adventure RPG. In the game, set forth on a journey across a fantasy world called Teyvat. In this vast world, you can explore seven nations, meet a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and abilities, and fight powerful enemies together with them, all on the way during your quest to find your lost sibling. You can also wander freely, immersing yourself in a world filled with life, and let your sense of wonder lead you to uncover all of its mysteries… Until you are at long last reunited with your lost sibling and bear witness to the culmination of all things at the end of your journey.

– Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game. You do not need to purchase Game Pass Ultimate or Core to play the game in Co-Op Mode.
– Players with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription can receive in-game bundles upon the game’s launch and after subsequent version updates, as well as play Genshin Impact on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

If you’re not too busy taking off for the skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 today, may we interrupt your flight with these games? We have a selection of day one games, game benefits, indies, and more. What can we get started for you (aka: what will you put in your download queue first)?

Available Today

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 19
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one! From Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studios, pursue your aviation career with dynamically generated missions, compete against other pilots, and explore the most detailed digital twin of the world to date. Set out on your global adventure with our largest fleet of aircraft as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes simulation to new heights of authenticity and realism.

Coming Soon

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 20
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one! Discover the vast Chornobyl Exclusion Zone full of dangerous enemies, deadly anomalies, and powerful artifacts. Unveil your own epic story as you make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. Choose your paths wisely, as they will determine your fate and shape the future of humankind in the end.

Little Kitty, Big City (Console) – November 20
Now with Game Pass Standard

Available with Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and now coming to Game Pass Standard members. In this open-world playground, you’re a curious little kitty with a big personality on an adventure to find your way back home. Explore the city, make new friends with stray animals, wear delightful hats, and leave more than a little chaos in your wake. After all, isn’t that what cats do best?

PlateUp! (Console) – November 20
Now with Game Pass Standard

Coming soon to Game Pass Standard, PlateUp! brings classic cooking action with permanent rogue-lite progression. Cook and serve your dishes, design and decorate your restaurants, and expand your culinary kingdom with unlocks, abilities and dishes in procedurally generated layouts. Take on the challenge solo or hire up to 3 friends.

Nine Sols (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 26
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Nine Sols is a lore-rich, hand-drawn 2D action-platformer with Sekiro-inspired, deflection-based combat. Embark on a journey through an Asia-inspired fantasy world, explore a land once ruled by an ancient alien race, and follow a vengeful hero on a quest to slay the 9 Sols—the powerful rulers of this forsaken realm.

Aliens: Dark Descent (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 27
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

In Aliens: Dark Descent, command a squad of hardened Colonial Marines to stop a terrifying Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe. Lead your soldiers in real-time combat against iconic Xenomorphs, rogue operatives from the insatiable Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and a host of horrifying creatures new to the Alien franchise.

Genshin Impact Benefits Coming to Game Pass Ultimate on November 20

Go on an adventure in the fantasy world of Teyvat in this free-to-play open-world adventure RPG on Xbox Series X|S. Game Pass Ultimate members will receive recurring rewards via their in-game mailbox, starting off with 2 Intertwined Fate, 1 Northlander Billet Trove, 10 Hero’s Wit, 100,000 Mora, and 15 Mystic Enhancement Ore in-game to celebrate the release on November 20!

In Case You Missed It

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

The original roast master is now on Game Pass! Same sick burns, same smoldering attitude, now all scaled up in stunning HD! Rekindle the fire with the original three games, Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, all in fully-remastered glory.

DLC / Game Updates

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone Season 01 – Available now

Ready to wreak havoc? The Black Ops 6 era is here with Season 01. Prepare for a vast new season of content with six Multiplayer maps including a festive Nuketown variant, seven new weapons, a brand-new Zombies map, and full Call of Duty: Warzoneintegration alongside the debut of Area 99 in the new Resurgence map.

New League of Legends Champion: Ambessa, the Matriarch of War – Available now

From Arcane to the Rift, Ambessa is ready to dominate all in her path. Unlock League of Legends’ newest top laner instantly with Xbox Game Pass.

Celebrate Arcane Season 2 in Valorant – Available until December 5

Celebrate the release of Arcane’s second season on Netflix by putting on Vi’s Atlas Gauntlets or causing some chaos with Jinx’s Fishbones-themed Vandal skin.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

The Elder Scrolls Online: 10-Year Anniversary Pack #4 – Available Now
Celebrate 10 years of ESO with the 10-Year Anniversary Pack #4! This bundle includes 2 Grand Gold Coast Experience Scrolls, 1 Major Instant All Research Scroll, and 500 Seals of Endeavor. Claim your Perk today!

Sea of Thieves: Festive Fighter Pack – Available Now
For a limited time, claim the Festive Fighter Pack! Along with four weapons (blunderbuss, cutlass, pistol and Eye of Reach) themed around the Festival of Giving, you’ll also receive the Humble Gift and Mistletoe Emotes to express your holiday spirit.

Leaving November 30

Don’t let the following games leave without a proper farewell! Don’t forget to use your membership discount to save 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library.

• Conan Exiles (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Coral Island (PC)
• Hello Neighbor 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Remnant: From The Ashes (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Rollerdrome (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Soccer Story (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Spirit of the North (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Walking Dead: The Final Season (PC)
• While the Iron’s Hot (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, keep an eye on Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox for reminders when these “coming soon” announcements turn into “play today”! In the meantime, enjoy your time in the skies and we’ll be back here soon. Cheers!