Xbox Game Pass is expanding its collection with the introduction of NBA 2K24 today, March 11. Unlike most titles added to the service, the latest installment of the NBA 2K series will not be accessible to Xbox Game Pass users on PC.
Since the beginning of the year, Microsoft's game library has grown by 29 titles. The majority of these additions were top-rated games like Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, which debuted on the service early this month.
NBA 2K24 deviates from this trend due to its mixed critical reception. With a Metacritic score of 68 across all platforms, it stands as one of the lowest-rated games in the 25-year history of the franchise. Criticisms from both players and reviewers focus on excessive in-game microtransactions that impact the overall experience.
March 2024 Lineup for Xbox Game Pass
- Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - March 5
- PAW Patrol World - March 7
- NBA 2K24 - March 11
- Available on cloud and console only
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated - March 12
- Control: Ultimate Edition - March 13
- No More Heroes 3 - March 14
- Lightyear Frontier - March 19
- Preview version
- Day-one release
- MLB The Show 24 - March 29
- Available on cloud and console only
- Day-one release
- Diablo 4 - March 28
- Open Roads - March 28
- Day-one release
Despite its flaws, NBA 2K24 remains a draw for basketball enthusiasts with limited alternatives. Its inclusion in Xbox Game Pass offers console owners a chance to experience the game. Unlike most additions, NBA 2K24 will only be accessible to console and Xbox Cloud Gaming users with an Ultimate-tier subscription. This decision is likely due to the inferior PC version, which lacks features and content compared to the console variant.
The arrival of NBA 2K24 initiates a packed week for Xbox Game Pass, with three additional titles scheduled for release soon: SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, Control: Ultimate Edition, and No More Heroes 3. Furthermore, four more games are confirmed to join the library in the latter half of March.
Among these additions are three day-one releases that subscribers can anticipate: Lightyear Frontier, MLB The Show 24, and Open Roads. With Microsoft's history of announcing content updates, another wave of Xbox Game Pass additions may be revealed around the 15th of March. While NBA 2K24 is now part of the service, it's likely to be replaced within six months, following the trend of previous franchise entries on Xbox Game Pass.