Xbox Game Pass Gets New Day One Launch Title Today

gamerant.com:

Harold Halibut, a unique narrative game developed by Slow Bros. is releasing day one on Xbox Game Pass, and subscribers will also be able to upgrade for free to Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition. Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass continues to offer an appealing library of games for members to enjoy, and the selection changes every month as new titles are added and others are removed.

Launching on April 16 for multiple platforms, Harold Halibut is already receiving predominantly positive reviews from critics, who have praised the deep story and likeable titular character as standouts. The game takes place on a giant city-sized spaceship that has been submerged in an alien ocean for hundreds of years, but even that setup isn’t the most unique aspect of the game. The graphics of Harold Halibut have been carefully handcrafted and then animated using stop-motion. The result is an eye catching and distinctive game that has won numerous awards since it was first announced in 2017.

Alongside Harold Halibut, Obsidian’s Grounded is receiving its final major update, Fully Yoked, on April 16. The survival adventure game has been part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog since it launched in early access in July 2020, and it has gained a loyal fan base in the years since then. Though it can be enjoyed solo, part of the game’s popularity has been its four-player co-op mode that lets a group of friends run around as ant-sized kids trying to survive in a giant backyard.

Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition, or Update 1.4,will add New Game Plus for those looking for an even bigger challenge and will also let players upgrade their gear past level 9. Obsidian also implemented new weapon variants, mutations, achievements, and Ant Queens, as well as a secret door that can be opened by defeating the Javamatic, Brood Mother, Mantis, and Wasp Queen.

Harold Halibut and Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition are just two of the titles that Xbox Game Pass subscribers gain access to in April. There are still three more titles