Unwrapping December's Gaming Treats: Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Announce Hot Titles

Microsoft Corporation MSFT unveiled the December 2023 lineup of games for Xbox Game Pass, along with additions to the Game Pass Core library.

This announcement covers the complete list for December, promising further updates in January after the holidays.

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The games introduced for Xbox Game Pass in December include:

• Spirit of the North (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available from Dec. 1. A single-player third-person adventure where you control a red fox whose story intertwines with the guardian of the Northern Lights.
• SteamWorld Build (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Also available from Dec. 1. 
• Clone Drone in the Danger Zone (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – Releasing on Dec. 5. It's a robot voxel slice ‘em up game involving survival in sinister arena trials, offering various gameplay modes.
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Returning to Game Pass on Dec. 5.
• While the Iron’s Hot (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Launching on Dec. 5. Players assume the role of a blacksmith striving to become a master while restoring a ruined village using wits and crafting skills.
• World War Z: Aftermath (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Also arriving on Dec. 5. An 8/10 rated co-op third-person shooter that advances the zombie genre.
• Goat Simulator 3 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – Coming to Game Pass on Dec. 7. A sequel that offers more absurd fun, earning an 8/10 rating.
• Against the Storm (PC) – Launching on PC Game Pass on Dec. 8. A dark fantasy city builder set in an apocalyptic rain-ravaged world, focusing on rebuilding civilization.
• Tin Hearts (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Entering Game Pass on Dec. 12. A Lemmings-style game with puzzles set in a grand Victorian home.
• Far Cry 6 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – The highly anticipated addition arrives on Dec. 14. 

Additionally, Microsoft revealed its first two Game Pass Core library additions: Chivalry 2 and Totally Reliable Delivery Service, scheduled for Dec. 6. Microsoft aims to update the Game Pass Core library a few times per year.

Unveiling PlayStation Plus December 2023 Games

Moreover, Sony Group Corp. SONY revealed the PlayStation Plus lineup for December 2023, which includes three titles accessible at no extra cost to subscribers starting Dec. 5. The featured games are:

• LEGO 2K Drive (PS4 and PS5) – An open-world racing game that combines extensive customization with competitive racing in the world of Bricklandia.
• Powerwash Simulator (PS4 and PS5) – This game offers a unique experience centered around using a power washer to clean various surfaces, featuring collaborations with franchises like Final Fantasy, Back to the Future, and SpongeBob SquarePants.
• Sable (PS5) – A coming-of-age exploration game set in a visually stunning open-world desert, inviting players on a personal journey across an alien planet.

These games will be accessible to PlayStation Plus subscribers until Jan. 1. Meanwhile, titles from the previous month—Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Mafia 2: Definitive Edition, and Dragon Ball: The Breakers—will be removed from the service on Dec. 4.

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Image credits: Miguel Lagoa on Shutterstock.