Game Pass or Pass

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Xbox Game Pass is one of the best values for gamers on Xbox and on PC. But not every game is worth your time. On the Game Pass or Pass Podcast, we tell you which games you should download and which games you should pass on by

  1. Forza Horizon 6 and Black Jacket, Only One Takes Place in Japan

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    Forza Horizon 6 and Black Jacket, Only One Takes Place in Japan

    This week on Game Pass or Pass, we're covering two games that couldn't be more different but are generating plenty of excitement: Forza Horizon 6 and Black Jacket. We start with Forza Horizon 6, as Playground Games finally brings the Horizon Festival to Japan. It's a setting fans have been requesting for years, and after seeing the reveal, it's easy to understand why. From winding mountain roads and dense city streets to countryside highways and changing weather, we discuss how the new location could completely change the way Horizon feels behind the wheel. We also dive into the updated driving physics, new online features, expanded customization, and massive vehicle roster to see whether Horizon 6 is pushing the franchise forward or simply polishing an already successful formula. With the series now spanning over a decade, we ask whether there's still room to innovate in the open-world racing genre or if this is exactly what fans have been waiting for. Then we switch gears to Black Jacket, one of the more intriguing new games on the horizon. While details are still emerging, the game's distinct visual style, atmosphere, and presentation have already captured plenty of attention. We break down everything shown in the reveal, discuss the gameplay mechanics that stood out, and talk about the questions that still need answering before launch. Is Black Jacket shaping up to be the next breakout hit, or is it a game that needs to show more before we buy into the hype? Along the way, we also discuss what these games say about Xbox's current lineup. Is Xbox finding the right balance between established franchises like Forza and fresh, original experiences like Black Jacket? Are these the kinds of games that continue to make Game Pass one of the best values in gaming? As always, we'll share our impressions, debate what works, point out our concerns, and finish the episode with the only question that matters: Is it a Game Pass... or a Pass?   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min
  2. 16/11/2025

    The Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Console Mess

    As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we sit down and talk through the massive shift Microsoft made at the start of October 2025: the full Xbox Game Pass revamp with new tiers (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), the 50% price hike on Ultimate to $29.99/month, the jump in PC Game Pass pricing, and the confusing split between day-one releases on Ultimate versus “within a year” access on other tiers. We break down what each tier actually gets you now, how that compares to just a couple of years ago, and why the current structure feels so wild and hard to message to normal players.  We also dig into the broader context that got Xbox here: another major round of layoffs, around 9,000 jobs across Microsoft with thousands tied to Xbox; the closure of The Initiative; and the cancellation of high-profile first-party projects like Perfect Dark and Everwild, plus heavy cuts at Turn 10 and other studios. We talk honestly about how all of that undercuts the “we care about creators” messaging, and how it collides with Microsoft’s push toward a more PC-centric, multi-platform strategy where Xbox games show up on PlayStation, Switch, and Windows as services rather than true console exclusives.  From there, we zoom out and look at where Game Pass sits going into 2026: Is Ultimate still worth the money after the price hikes and restructuring? PC Gamer+1 Does the new tier setup actually give players “more choice,” or just more confusion?  What does Game Pass look like in a world where Microsoft is clearly prioritizing Windows, cloud, and publishing on competing hardware over building a strong console identity? We close the episode by looking across the aisle at PlayStation’s future hardware plans. Sony’s CFO is now on record saying PS5 is only “in the middle of its journey,” while leaks and reporting continue to point toward a PlayStation 6 sometime in the later part of this decade and a Switch-style PS6 handheld that’s designed around backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles. We talk about what a PS6 and PS6 handheld could mean for Xbox’s next console, and whether Microsoft’s current moves put them in a better place for that fight—or a weaker one.  By the end of it, we’re asking a simple question with a messy answer: Is Game Pass still the best deal in gaming, or is Microsoft burning a lot of goodwill right as the next generation starts to come into view? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 h 47 min

À propos

Xbox Game Pass is one of the best values for gamers on Xbox and on PC. But not every game is worth your time. On the Game Pass or Pass Podcast, we tell you which games you should download and which games you should pass on by