Star Wars: Squadrons has been announced as one of the titles coming to Xbox Game Pass and EA Play. The popular dogfighting game is set to arrive on the game streaming service platforms next month.
Released in October 2020, EA and Motive’s Star Wars flight sim has proven to be extremely popular. Fans have lauded Star Wars: Squadrons for its flight mechanics and absence of microtransactions, especially after the immense controversy of the feature with 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront 2. Squadrons was one of the recent free trial games for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, so players who missed the opportunity will have another chance at playing the game without buying it outright.
Star Wars: Squadrons offers a high-octane addition to the Star Wars mythos. The title allows players to pilot a series of iconic ships from the popular franchise, including X-Wings, TIE Fighters, and A-Wings. Beyond the initial ships offered, and despite publicly stating there were no plans for DLC, developer Motive surprised fans with a free content update, which included the fan-favorite B-Wing and deep-cut TIE Defender. Along with players duking it out in multiplayer battles, the game features an original, action-packed campaign, with the story switching between player-created Rebel and Imperial pilots as they embark upon action-packed missions set shortly after the events of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Although EA has yet to announce a specific release date, what is known is that Star Wars: Squadrons will arrive on EA Play at some point in March. Since EA Play was bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate last November, anyone who has a Game Pass Ultimate account will also get a chance to enjoy Star Wars: Squadrons at no extra cost. EA Play is $4.99 a month, while Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is $14.99 a month. However, considering all the extra goodies players get with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, the latter is arguably the better deal.
While some subscribers to Xbox’s game streaming service have been voicing their discontent with the service’s selection of titles, the addition of a premium title like Squadrons should be satisfactory. For a truly immersive experience, the game can be played in VR. However, Xbox Game Pass Subscribers have to wait a little longer for EA Play on PC, and seeing as how PC is the only Game Pass-friendly platform capable of running the virtual reality version, ultra-dedicated fans will have to hold out just a bit longer.
Star Wars: Squadrons should prove to be a robust addition to Game Pass and EA Play. While quite the popular title, the game’s mechanics do have a bit of a learning curve, and not all gamers are too crazy about Star Wars IP. The good news is that it’s not the only EA title coming soon to the services. NHL 21 is coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in April.
Star Wars: Squadrons is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: GamesRadar+
