Xbox announced S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl for Game Pass on November 20, 2024, and Aliens: Dark Descent for November 27, 2024. Those dates have passed; the announcement records what Xbox planned then, not whether either game is in Game Pass now.
What Xbox announced in November 2024
In a November 19, 2024 Xbox Wire post, Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead for Xbox Game Pass, listed both games as upcoming additions. The announcement gave different arrival dates, plan names, and platform listings:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Art of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | $31.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Riders Republic Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Standard Edition | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Xbox One S | $198.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Xbox: The Making of a Bad-Ass Machine | $2.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Game | Announced date | Game Pass plans named | Platforms named |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl | November 20, 2024 | Game Pass Ultimate; PC Game Pass | Cloud; PC; Xbox Series X|S |
| Aliens: Dark Descent | November 27, 2024 | Game Pass Ultimate; PC Game Pass; Game Pass Standard | Cloud; console; PC |
These are the plans and platforms in the original announcement, not a statement of current catalog availability. Xbox Wire’s November 19, 2024 announcement.
How the two games differ
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Xbox’s announcement describes a journey through the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where players encounter enemies and anomalies, collect artifacts, and make story choices. It was listed for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass named.
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Aliens: Dark Descent
In Aliens: Dark Descent, players command Colonial Marines responding to a Xenomorph outbreak on Moon Lethe. Xbox described it as real-time combat and listed the game for cloud, console, and PC, with Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard named.
Those descriptions distinguish the games’ premises; the announcement is not a review or evidence that one is better than the other. Both descriptions and listings come from Xbox Wire.
Rank #2
- Battle against over 50 players simultaneously in a massive multiplayer playground—over 20 players on Xbox One.
- Compete in an all-out mass start race—collide, grind, and fight your way to the finish
- Customize your character to show off your style to your friends or show up the competition.
- Bike, ski, snowboard, or wingsuit through a seamless open world in Career mode or multiplayer events.
- Go wild on the heights of iconic US national parks like Yosemite, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
Are either game on Game Pass now?
The November 2024 post cannot establish whether either title is currently included. Xbox says catalog titles and availability vary over time, region, plan, and platform. Check the Xbox Game Pass catalog for your region and the plan and device you use before relying on subscription access.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Buying S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 on disc
For players who want a physical copy rather than access through a subscription, PLAION’s support documentation confirms that the Xbox Series X physical edition includes a game disc. This does not establish current stock or availability at any particular retailer. PLAION’s physical-edition support page.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Fully customizable back triggers that allow the user to program the PS4 Controller and map any of the input Buttons to the two extra triggers
- Enjoy over 100 games right out of the box with a 1 month Xbox Game Pass trial
- Enjoy over 100 games right out of the box with a 1 month Xbox Game Pass trial
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
