Xbox Game Pass update adds 2018 Soulslike

A 2018 Soulslike RPG by Annapurna Interactive and A44 Games Ashen is available on Xbox Game Pass from October 29, 2024. The title was previously on Game Pass shortly after its release, but left the service at the end of 2019. Players can now get back into the action in more ways than ever before. Ashen coming to Xbox, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Microsoft announced the second wave of Game Pass titles for the month of October 15. The update included several big items including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Dead Island 2but indie fans may be happy to see another, more easily overlooked title in the mix. After a long absence from Game Pass, the action RPG A44 in the shadow of cells is back and more accessible than ever.

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Ashen originally launched on Xbox One and PC in December 2018 before coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 a year later. This next console release also saw it leave Xbox Game Pass, forcing fans to buy a copy for themselves if they wanted to keep playing it. Now that it's back in service, its supported console base is significantly larger. In addition to being playable on newer hardware like the Xbox Series X/S, it's available on Xbox Cloud Gaming, which wasn't here. Ashen released for the first time.

Despite a somewhat mixed critical reception, some fans say Ashen is one of the best Soulslikes available today. The title may not be as big as others in the genre, but it boasts a unique art style and online and local co-op. The story and events also change depending on where players are at any given moment, ensuring that no two users will have the exact same gaming experience.

Xbox Game Pass brings a number of notable titles in October

Ashen isn't the only game worth mentioning in the latest update. Fan favorite Encryption is now also available on Game Pass, just like the hit fighting game Sifu. Call of Duty lastly, the fans also have a reason to celebrate Black Ops the title got Game Pass on the first day of release. Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone it also dropped on the Xbox online service on the same day. Other notable games include South Park: The Fractured But Whole and MLB The Show 24.

Of course, every month also brings some less exciting news. Five titles are leaving Game Pass on October 31st, inclusive Frog Detective: The Whole Mystery and Mineko Night Market.

Ashen is an open world co-op action RPG about a drifter looking for a place to call home. Renowned fantasy author Mark Lawrence (The Broken Empire trilogy) and renowned band Foreign Fields worked closely with the development team at A44 to create a cohesive and unique story and sound.

True to the “souls” genre of stamina-based combat, Ashen introduces players to a punishing yet satisfyingly expansive world. But here's the twist – no two gaming experiences are the same. Whether you're exploring the swamps, exploring a fjord, or looting an old palace, wherever you are at any given moment will dramatically change the course of your adventure. It's a brutal open world; you just live in it. Once you discover survivors, you'll have the option to invite them to your town. But they're not just adventurers—they're potential collaborators who bring a plethora of crafting skills, from blacksmithing to foraging expertise.

There's no shortage of dangerous encounters, from hostile enemies to native creatures. You will be rewarded for studying the environment and its inhabitants, planning adventures rather than flying by the seat of your pants. The flora and fauna in the world are not just fantastic; are often fatal. Every confrontation, no matter how trivial, has potentially dire consequences

As you adventure through Ashen, you'll occasionally encounter other players in a massive open world similar to Journey's passive multiplayer. It's up to you how you deal with them – fight evil together, invite them into your party or simply ignore them.

Released

December 7, 2018

Developers

A44 games

Multiplayer

Online multiplayer

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

T For Teens Due To Blood, Violence

How long to beat

16 hours

Steam Deck compatibility

Playable

PS Plus availability

ON

OpenCritic rating

Strong

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