Xbox players were in for a big surprise asDeath Stranding: Director’s Cutwas released on Xbox Series X/S on November 7. The news is sure to shock a lot of fans of the Kojima Productions title, not only due to there being no prior announcement of its addition to the consoles, but due to the game’s initial exclusivity with PlayStation. Nevertheless, the Xbox port ofDeath Strandingis great news, increasing its accessibility and allowing more players to experience this title for the very first time.
As is inevitable with any major release on Xbox, many players will surely be wondering whetherDeath Stranding’s definitive versionwill also be added to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. It’s no secret that Microsoft has pushed for the service’s success by making it the premier location for players to gain instant access to a huge library of Xbox titles. Many of Xbox’s first-party titles are now being added to the service from day one, while it also boasts an impressive selection of third-party games, makingDeath Stranding’s inclusion perfectly reasonable.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut Is Now On Xbox Series X/S
It’s Even At A Huge Discount For A Limited Time
As a shadow drop on November 7,Death Stranding: Director’s Cutwas added to theXboxstore for Series X/S. The release occurred without any prior announcement, which is especially confusing considering how monumental this release is. Rarely does a PlayStation exclusive as popular asDeath Strandingsee such a wide multi-platform release.Having the game become widely accessible to a large community of players is surely meant to greatly increaseDeath Stranding’s success, so it makes little sense for Microsoft and Kojima Productions to release it so quietly.
Confusing announcement aside,Death Stranding’s release on Xbox will definitely attract new players, and Microsoft is clearly making attempts to get new players on this game early on. For the first two weeks post-release,Death Stranding: Director’s Cutis 50% off on the Xbox store, bringing the price of the game down to just $19.99. It’s an amazing deal for such a huge release, and it shows there’s clear interest from Microsoft to see this game find great success among Xbox players and from Kojima Productions to make the game more widely available to everyone.
With this in mind,Death Stranding’s potentialaddition to Game Passseems like a no-brainer. The addition would surely be beneficial to Microsoft, which is continuously pushing for players to join the service. The addition of a huge title likeDeath Strandingwould definitely strengthen the Game Pass' major appeal as the home of the biggest and best releases. Moreover,the addition would only increase the game’s outreach to players due to Game Pass’s accessibility, as subscription holders can immediately jump into action with no delay.
Death Stranding: Director’s Cut Isn’t On Game Pass (Yet)
There’s Always The Possibility It Will Be Added At A Future Date
Unfortunately,Death Stranding: Director’s Cutis not available on Game Pass at this time, requiring a full purchase through the Xbox store. While disappointing, the news is hardly surprising. Day-one releases on Game Pass are typically reserved for Microsoft’s own major releases, the most recent example being thewell-receivedCall of Duty: Black Ops 6. Of course, there’s always hope thatDeath Strandingwill soon be granted a place in Game Pass’s library, and in the meantime, the game is currently at a great price that will surely entice Xbox players to explore what this title has to offer.
Death Stranding’s addition to Game Pass would certainly be a step in the right direction. The game’s availability on PlayStation Plus is clear proof that there’s interest from Kojima Productions to give as much accessibility as possible to players. As Game Pass continues its journey to becoming one of the biggest and most impressive catalogs in gaming,Death Stranding: Director’s Cutfeels like a natural fit for the service.
Sources:Xbox,Kojima Productions/Twitter
Death Stranding
Death Stranding marks the first release for Kojima Productions after Hideo Kojima exited his position at Konami. The release sees the player controlling Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus. Sam will need to do his best to avoid detection and stay alive, protecting his cargo as he transports it to various locations.
