SYSTEM UPDATE: Xbox March 2025 Update - In-Game Benefits, Xbox Cloud Gaming Enhancements and Free-to-Play Features

March is packed with exciting updates for Xbox players! From seamless game switching on Xbox Cloud Gaming to over 50 cloud-playable titles for Game Pass Ultimate members, the fun never stops. Unlock exclusive in-game rewards for free-to-play games, explore new dynamic backgrounds, and enjoy a fresh Game Bar design for PC. Plus, with the release of the Xbox Adaptive Joystick and more perks rolling out soon, there's no better time to level up your gaming experience. Get ready for a month of non-stop action and new features!

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Unlock more in-game benefits for free-to-play games with Game Pass

Starting this week, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members are gaining even more value with new in-game benefits for free-to-play games. Members can unlock cosmetics, characters, in-game currency, and more for additional games, including Heroes of the Storm, Naraka: Bladepoint, and The Finals. Even more benefits will be added starting in April 2025, including for Call of Duty: Warzone and Enlisted. With seasonal content drops, members will always have new benefits to look forward to.

To find available benefits, launch Xbox on PC:

• Navigate to the Game Pass tab and click “More Benefits” to see all in-game benefits.
• Or explore Home or Game Pass tabs for the in-game benefits section. Click “More Games” to explore all in-game benefits.
• Or navigate to a participating game’s page to see available in-game benefits.

Find out the full of list of new benefits available here and keep an eye out for more benefits for additional games in the future.

PC Gaming

A new look for Game Bar on PC

Players may have noticed that Game Bar has received a fresh new look, marking the start of several visual enhancements rolling out this week. The update includes a redesigned Game Bar and various utility widgets, such as Home Bar, Capture widget, Performance widget, Resource widget, and Widget Store.

Additionally, improvements have been made to controller navigation within the Widget Store, ensuring a smoother experience when using Compact Mode on PCs and Windows Handhelds.

These visual updates and navigation enhancements make Game Bar more user-friendly, improving the overall gaming experience.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

Seamlessly shift between games on Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

Changes are being made to how players switch between games on Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), starting with Assassin’s Creed Shadows this month. Previously, players had to return to the Xbox.com/play page to switch games. Now, when playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can directly launch other Assassin’s Creed titles without needing to go back to the Home page. For example, Assassin’s Creed Shadows players can seamlessly launch any of the following four Assassin’s Creed games: Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

This new feature enables a more immersive and frictionless experience when switching between games. While playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players can select other Assassin’s Creed games from an in-game hub, which will display a pop-up with details about each title. Players can then directly launch the selected games with a single click. If the game is not owned or not available on the cloud, players will be notified. This feature is currently available for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and will be expanded to other cloud-playable games in the future.

Stream your own game – More cloud playable games are available

This month, more games are being added to the Stream Your Own Game collection. Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream over 50 cloud-playable games on supported devices, provided they own the games.

Recently added:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• Gotham Knights
• Party Animals
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
• The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
• Wobbly Life

Coming soon:

• Planet Coaster 2
• Planet Zoo: Console Edition
• Raft
• Shredders
• The Thing: Remastered
• And more

Xbox Adaptive Joystick

The newly announced Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available for purchase exclusively at the Microsoft Store. Created in collaboration with the Gaming and Disability Community, this unique, wired controller is designed to cater to players with limited mobility. Its versatile design allows easy integration into existing gaming setups, offering a more inclusive and customizable gaming experience. Learn more about the Xbox Adaptive Joystick here.

Rewards update and $3 Candy Crush gift card

Redeeming Rewards points just got easier—play, claim, redeem, repeat! Now, players can find their Rewards points and account balance directly on the left navigation menu in the Microsoft Store on console. Redeem points for an Xbox gift card to grab your next favorite game. This update is available to all Rewards-eligible regions starting this month.

In addition to Xbox gift cards, Rewards points can also be redeemed for a $3 Candy Crush gift card, which includes 48 hours of unlimited lives to keep players solving tasty puzzles with in-game combos. To claim it, visit the Rewards hub on your Xbox profile and check the Rewards catalog. After redemption, an email with the gift card code and instructions will be sent to the King account on file. This offer is limited, so terms apply.

Xbox Consoles – More Dynamic Backgrounds

Xbox Series X|S consoles now offer several new dynamic backgrounds to choose from! In the past month, the following exciting designs have been added:

• Microsoft 50th Anniversary
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• Sea of Thieves: Megalodon
• Sea of Thieves: Sunset
• Split Fiction
• Towerborne
• WWE 2K25

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