Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just tossed another day-one gem into its sprawling vault. This latest catch? "Wuchang: Fallen Feathers." Yup, it’s the 16th lucky star to join July 2025’s lineup, and if you’re really counting, the 94th since the year kicked off. I mean, who’s keeping track, right? Oh, wait.
So, plot twist: a Chinese studio, Lenzee Games, crafted this soulslike RPG. Imagine: 17th-century China, the last breaths of the Ming dynasty, and enter Wuchang, this pirate gal who can’t quite remember stuff and is battling this weird Feathering Disease. Was announced back in September 2021, and then, ta-da, it landed as a day-one Xbox Game Pass title after the June 2024 showcase. Fast-forward all that suspense, and by April 2025, we had a drop date.
Get this: while most of us were watching reruns, folks on the U.S. East Coast were already diving in around 10pm on July 23. I mean, talk about a head start. If you’re an XGP subscriber, you can snag Wuchang on Xbox Series X/S or PC. Xbox One? Nah, not directly. But cloud gaming saves the day if you fancy the streaming life.
What’s new and shiny on Game Pass? Here’s a quick, no-nonsense list. Or not:
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – Drops on July 24. Exclusive party for Ultimate and PC peeps. Cloud, PC, Series X/S invites only. Yeah, day-one vibes.
- Grounded 2 – Arrives July 29. Ultimate tier, also a day-one kind of deal.
- Farming Simulator 25 – Coming Aug 1. Open invite for Standard, PC, and Ultimate club members.
- Gears of War: Reloaded – Launches Aug 26. Another day-one member.
- More? Yep, we got Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2 sprinkled throughout the rest of the year.
Alright, reviews. Mixed bag alert. Wuchang’s sitting pretty at a "Strong" on OpenCritic. That’s a cool 75 average, with a 70% nod of approval. Critics are in love with the game’s speedy combat and quirky Madness system. Die, and you lose stuff based on your Madness level. Also boosts damage both ways, which is kinda wild. And if you max out the lunacy? Doppelgänger time!
But hey, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Some say the game’s like every other soulslike cliché mashed together. Oh, and the difficulty’s out of whack. Sometimes too easy, then “BAM!” – way too hard. Is it just me, or is gaming the ultimate “your mileage may vary” experience?
Now, when does Wuchang hit the Standard Xbox Game Pass? Not just yet. Odds are, we’ll see it there between January and July 2026. While we wait? Grounded 2’s doing its early access sway on July 29. Keep your controllers ready. Or maybe just a snack. 🤷♂️
