Microsoft Adds Over 50 Retro Games To Xbox Game Pass - 1

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Microsoft Adds Over 50 Retro Games To Xbox Game Pass

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Microsoft’s gaming brand, Xbox, announced on Wednesday that it will add over 50 Retro Classic games from the 1980s and 1990s to its platform for Xbox Game Pass members. The collection includes titles such as Grand Prix, Pitfall, and Commando.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Xbox announced that it will add over 50 Retro Classic games from the 80s and 90s.
  • Retro Classic includes titles such as Grand Prix, Pitfall, and Commando.
  • The gaming company promised to add more games soon.

According to the announcement , the Retro Classic initiative is part of the company’s mission to preserve games and offer players timeless experiences with compatibility on modern devices.

“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Retro Classics, a collaboration between Xbox and Antstream Arcade, available to play for Game Pass members globally,” states the document. “Starting today, Game Pass members can dive into a collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the ’80s and ’90s.”

Xbox highlighted titles such as Kaboom!, Grand Prix, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, Commando, and Pitfall, and shared a video to promote the new experiences users can expect from these additions to the platform.

Game Pass members will be able to access the Retro Classics from the console, PC, and devices with cloud gaming by installing the new feature. Microsoft’s gaming team also added competitive features to encourage players to interact with other users.

“Additionally, players can take on friends, rivals, or the entire world with unique challenges,” wrote Dean Shimabukuro, Product Marketing Manager at Xbox, in the announcement. “or the achievement hunters, there are some great new ones to collect, and for newer players, the ability to save and reload your progress, a first for many classic titles.”

The video game company promised to add more nostalgic titles soon, aiming to expand the Retro Classic collection to over 100 titles.

Other companies in the industry have been sharing similar strategies in the past few months. Last year, Nintendo added classic games , including Mega Man: Dr. Wily’s Revenge and Mega Man II, for Nintendo Switch Online members, and Atari expanded its collection for its 50th anniversary .

Google Announces AI Mode In Search, $250 AI Subscription, Smart Glasses, and More at I/O 2025 - 2

Photo by Greg Bulla on Unsplash

Google Announces AI Mode In Search, $250 AI Subscription, Smart Glasses, and More at I/O 2025

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

On Tuesday, Alphabet kicked off its annual Google I/O conference in Mountain View, California, and made multiple major announcements about upcoming technologies.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Google launched a new $249.99 AI subscription called “Google AI Ultra.”
  • Users in the U.S. will be able to access AI Mode in Search.
  • The tech giant introduced its upcoming smart glasses.

The tech giant launched a new subscription service called “Google AI Ultra,” which includes access to multiple AI models and exclusive tools for $249.99, a new search feature called AI Mode, and new smart glasses equipped with cameras, microphones, and access to the Gemini AI model.

According to the official announcement , Google AI Ultra is the plan that offers the most advanced technology and the highest usage limits. For nearly $250 per month, users in the United States will receive YouTube Premium, early access to experimental products, and a suite of tools including Gemini, NotebookLM, and Whisk. The company expects to expand the service to more countries soon.

“We’re introducing Google AI Ultra, a new AI subscription plan with the highest usage limits and access to our most capable models and premium features,” states the document. “If you’re a filmmaker, developer, creative professional, or simply demand the absolute best of Google AI with the highest level of access, the Google AI Ultra plan is built for you — think of it as your VIP pass to Google AI.”

Google’s previous premium plan will now be called Google AI Pro and will add AI filmmaking features in Flow, which includes video tools such as Veo .

The new subscription plan competes with other AI companies’ offers, such as OpenAI’s $200 plan ChatGPT Pro , and Anthropic’s $200 Maximum Flexibility plan .

Last year, Google introduced AI Overviews, and a few months ago, the company began testing AI Mode—a more advanced and multimodal AI-powered search. During I/O, Google announced it’s now releasing an AI Model to the public in the United States.

Google showed a sneak peek of its upcoming smart glasses powered by Gemini and Android XR, along with Qualcomm and Samsung. The new device includes microphones, speakers, and cameras, offering users immersive experiences.

The tech giant also partnered with Warby Parker and Gentle Monster to develop the new technology and promised to share more updates on progress and device availability in the upcoming months.