Correction 25-07-2025: Ubisoft clarified in a tweet that an Ubisoft+ subscription is not currently planned to be included with Xbox Game Pass, just that its contents will be available on Xbox consoles. Story has been updated to reflect this information.
Subscription services are the status quo for entertainment in 2022. Video games have PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass in the same way television and movies sit on platforms likeNetflix, Paramount Plus, and Disney+. Seemingly every major corporation has gotten into this trend, and for the games industry this means a glut of platforms like EA Play and Ubisoft+ exist alongside console players. However, the upcomingRainbow Six Extractionsignals a shift for Ubisoft in particular.
On January 5, Ubisoft announcedRainbow Six Extractionwill be a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft has been shoring up its service for years with monthly indie and AAA releases, and every title produced under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella has launched day one on Game Pass. Ubisoft said “its Ubisoft+ subscription service will be coming to Xbox in the future,” expanding the reach of games available via that platform outside the PC sphere, andRainbow Six Extractionis a great title to get the ball rolling.
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Xbox Game Pass' Expanding Benefits
The main draw for Xbox Game Pass is its aforementioned catalog and day-one releases. A flat monthly fee to access everything Xbox has to offer is appealing for many and pays for itself if fans try just a few AAA launches each year, even if the subscription model foregoes ownership. The flexibility of playing on PC also affords Microsoft an edge not shared by its competitors Sony and Nintendo - though the latter’sNintendo Switch Online serviceis its own unique case.
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Rainbow Six Extraction is a Good Test Case for Ubisoft+ on Game Pass
Ubisoft+ (previously UPlay Plus)is a far bigger commitment than EA Play, with basic PC access to “100+ games” including theAssassin’s CreedandFar Crylibraries being $14.99 a month. Given it’s a specialized service akin to EA Play, Ubisoft+ is not buffing out its offerings month-to-month like Xbox Game Pass. While Ubisoft+ will continue to be a seperate subscription service for Xbox users, the fact it is beginning to release titles via Game Pass should have an impact on audience engagement, and keeping servers populated may pay dividends down the line.
This will just be the beginning of the partnership according to Chris Early, Ubisoft’s senior VP of strategic partnerships and business development, in the January 5 announcement. IfRainbow Six Extractionis successful and the deal later expands so Ubisoft+ is included with Game Pass similar to EA Play, this would be a huge boon for players - who get greater access to a variety of titles. None of that excusesUbisoft’s abuse allegations and lawsuitsover the last few years, or other controversies like its attempt to break into the NFT space, but it means hard work that lower-level developers put in would get more of a chance to have thriving online environments.
Rainbow Six Extractionlaunches January 20 for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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