Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Adds Day-One Sequel to Critically Acclaimed Game
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is now available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can start playing Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders as part of their subscription starting today, January 21. This day-one addition to Microsoft’s service is the fifth title to reach Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in January 2025.
Developed by Megagon Industries, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is a sequel to Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a 2019 title that earned a reputation as one of the coolest off-road racing games in recent memory. The first entry in the series was a day-one Xbox Game Pass release, having been offered to Microsoft’s subscribers for half a decade.
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Two and a half months after Lonely Mountains: Downhill left Xbox Game Pass, its sequel is now here to take its place. As has been the case with all day-one releases on the service since summer 2024, Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is only available to PC Game Pass and Ultimate-tier members. The off-road racing game can also be streamed via Xbox Cloud Gaming, an exclusive perk of XGP Ultimate.
Snow Riders shares a similar concept with its predecessor, challenging players to descend a mountain with both speed and style. But instead of doing so on a bike, players are now expected to control a skier. Navigating rough terrain and flying off cliffs is still an inherent part of the gameplay experience, with Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders rewarding quick reflexes and bravery. As was the case with Lonely Mountains: Downhill, completing challenges in Snow Riders unlocks new gear and locations.
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Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
| Game | Date Added | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders | Jan 21 | Ultimate, PC | PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. Cloud TBA. |
| Flock | Jan 22 | Standard | Console | Available to PC GP and GP Ultimate subscribers since July 2024. |
| Gigantic: Rampage Edition | Jan 22 | Ultimate, Standard, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | |
| Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess | Jan 22 | Standard | Console | Available to PC GP and GP Ultimate subscribers since July 2024. |
| Magical Delicacy | Jan 22 | Standard | Console | |
| Tchia | Jan 22 | Standard | Series X/S | |
| The Case of the Golden Idol | Jan 22 | Standard | Console | |
| Starbound | Jan 22 | Ultimate, Standard | Cloud, Console | |
| Eternal Strands | Jan 28 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
| Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap | Jan 28 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | |
| Shady Part of Me | Jan 29 | Ultimate, PC, Standard | Cloud, Console, PC | |
| Sniper Elite: Resistance | Jan 30 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release. |
| Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector | Jan 31 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
| Far Cry New Dawn | Feb 4 | Ultimate, PC, Standard | Cloud, Console, PC | |
| Avowed | Feb 18 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Day-one release. |
| Atomfall | Mar 27 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release. |
| Football Manager 25 | Mar ?? | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release; exact release date TBA. |
| Commandos: Origins | Mar ?? | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Day-one release; exact release date TBA. |
When Will Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders Reach Xbox Game Pass Standard?
Back when it announced Xbox Game Pass Standard in July 2024, Microsoft said that the new budget tier of its service may receive XGP Ultimate’s day-one titles after a delay of six to 12 months. And while the company noted that the exact release timings will vary on a case-by-case basis, it has mostly stuck to that original promise ever since. Therefore, it’s possible that Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders will find its way to the XGP Standard library as early as July 2025.
In the meantime, several new titles are coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate before the end of the month. The first of those are Starbound and Gigantic: Rampage Edition, both of which are scheduled to arrive on Wednesday, January 22. They will be followed by Eternal Strands and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap on January 28. Shady Part of Me is then slated to reach the service a day later. Xbox Game Pass is also losing half a dozen titles on January 31, including Anuchard, Darkest Dungeon, and Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem. More Xbox Game Pass news may surface on January 23, when Microsoft‘s third-ever Xbox Developer Direct is taking place.
