Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers now have access to the long-awaited turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which has been generating buzz since its initial announcement in summer 2024. As Microsoft's premium gaming subscription tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate continues its tradition of offering members day-one access to major releases without additional charges.

Developed by Sandfall Interactive, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already claimed the title of 2025's highest rated game. With an impressive 91 average on OpenCritic, critics have celebrated its emotionally gripping narrative, stunning cinematic presentation, and innovative combat system that revitalizes turn-based mechanics. Many industry observers are already predicting it will be a strong contender for Game of the Year honors.

Following Microsoft's standard practice for first-party titles, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can immediately download Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 across Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud gaming platforms. Set in the beautifully realized city of Lumiere, inspired by France's Belle Epoque period, the game presents a haunting premise: each year, the mysterious Paintress inscribes a number on her monolith, condemning all people of that age to death. With the next number being 33, a group of doomed individuals bands together to break this cruel cycle forever.

Players assume the role of Gustave in Clair Obscur, an Expeditor accompanied by his foster sister Maelle, as they journey through breathtaking environments filled with secrets and dangers. The game revolutionizes turn-based combat by incorporating real-time defensive maneuvers like dodges and parries alongside traditional strategic elements. Sandfall Interactive aimed to address what they saw as a void in modern AAA RPGs, and early indications suggest they've succeeded spectacularly.

The excitement for Xbox Game Pass subscribers continues with the recent surprise launch of The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on April 22, following numerous leaks. The service's upcoming lineup remains strong with titles like Far Cry 4, Modern Warfare 2, Dredge, Return of the Savage Planet, and Doom: The Dark Ages - the last two being day-one releases for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers.