Xbox Game Pass saved my mental health – Reader’s Feature

metro.co.uk:

A reader explains why Xbox Game Pass’ offer of cheap access to dozens of new games meant so much to him after losing his job.

There’s one thing that as a Brit we often don’t talk openly about, one of those things is money and the other is mental health. But I wanted to share this, both my story of my struggles through the pandemic, but also how gaming (and specific games) truly helped me through some of these difficult times. I am sure there are plenty of others who have had worse or similar experiences to myself, but I felt like writing something more personal to me and something where I genuinely praise gaming for all the good it can do.

In October 2019 I left a company I had worked at for six years, deciding to follow a new career path. I had just turned 30 and got engaged to my long-time partner, I felt it was the right time. I started a new job shortly after that I genuinely enjoyed, it was a new and exciting, but the money was poor – less than I was on in my previous job. But it was worth it and when starting afresh this can happen, plus I had a little side hustle to keep me ticking over.

Fast forward to April 2020 and Covid-19 is upon us, and we go into lockdown. The uncertainty at this time was scary for a multitude of reasons. How long would we stay this way? What would happen if we caught this virus? What do we do now?

I, like millions of others, was furloughed. My wage cut by 20% and my side hustle, that was keeping me financially afloat, was no longer viable under the strict lockdown rules. As the lockdown and restrictions continued month after month, my finances were dire. What made this more difficult, was I had never had more free time in my life, at first a welcome break, but it very quickly turned into