2023’s First Batch Of Xbox Game Pass Games Are Dropping Next Week

Xbox has revealed the first batch of Xbox Game Pass drops for 2023.

After a surprise drop last week with Stranded Deep being added to Game Pass, a new batch of games are coming to Game Pass. These games are from some iconic franchises by Japanese developers. The Persona series was announced to be coming to Xbox in June last year with Persona 5 Royal being added to Game Pass back in October. Now it’s time for Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden to join Xbox on January 19.  Monster Hunter Rise was announced last month, and will launch on Game Pass one day later on January 20.

• Persona 3 Portable (Jan 19)
• Persona 4 Golden (Jan 19)
• Monster Hunter Rise (Jan 20)

Persona 3 Portable – (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 19

Every night when the clock strikes midnight, a phenomenon called “The Dark Hour” occurs. During this “hidden” hour of the day, normal humans are transmogrified into coffin-like objects, unaware of the world around them. What’s more, evil creatures called Shadows appear to prey on the minds of humans, inflicting a zombie-like condition commonly known as Apathy Syndrome.

You are a New Transfer Student moving to Tatsumi Port Island to attend Gekkoukan High School. Soon after settling into your new dormitory, you are discovered to have “the potential”: the ability to remain as a human within the Dark Hour, and to fight the Shadows with a mysterious inner-power called “Persona”. Recruited into the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (SEES), a secret student society dedicated to fighting the Shadows, you now have to balance your school life, your social life and your new demon-hunting life.

Persona 4 Golden – (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 19

Inaba—a quiet town in rural Japan sets the scene for budding adolescence in Persona 4 Golden.

A coming of age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders. Explore meeting kindred spirits, feelings of belonging, and even confronting the darker sides of one’s self.

Persona 4 Golden promises meaningful bonds and experiences shared together with friends.

With an overall Metacritic score of 93 and a multitude of awards, fan-adored Persona 4 Golden stands as one of the finest RPGs ever made, delivering on enthralling storytelling and quintessential Persona gameplay.

Monster Hunter Rise – (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20

Set in the ninja-inspired land of Kamura Village, explore lush ecosystems and battle fearsome monsters to become the ultimate hunter. It’s been half a century since the last calamity struck, but a terrifying new monster has reared its head and threatens to plunge the land into chaos once again.

RELATED: January’s Xbox Games With Gold Have Been Announced

Games Leaving Game Pass

The following games are leaving Game Pass on January 15, 2023.

• Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Nobody Saves The World (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Pupperazzi (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Anacrusis (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• We Happy Few (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Windjammers 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)