Xbox Game Pass Adds Another Square Enix Game

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The Xbox Game Pass now includes a remastered version of Final Fantasy II, considered by many fans to be the best way to experience the game. It’s available just before the announcement of the February 2026 Xbox Game Pass lineup.

Since its debut in 1988, Final Fantasy II has been updated and re-released many times. It initially moved from the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the WonderSwan Color, and later appeared on the PlayStation as part of Final Fantasy Origins and on the Game Boy Advance as Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls. A remake for the PSP came out in 2007, and a simplified version was released for some Japanese mobile phones shortly before that. Most recently, the game was remastered as part of the popular Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection, which includes the first six games in the series.

Xbox Game Pass Doubles Its Selection of Final Fantasy Games

Starting today, February 3rd, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the newest version of Final Fantasy II on all plans except the basic XGP Essential tier. This is the third game added to the Microsoft subscription service this month and the 21st so far this year. It follows the addition of Final Fantasy I Pixel Remaster on January 8th, and suggests that Game Pass might get one remastered Final Fantasy title each month until the full Square Enix collection is available.

All Square Enix JRPGs Currently Available on Xbox Game Pass

  • Final Fantasy 1 Pixel Remaster
  • Final Fantasy 2 Pixel Remaster
  • Legend of Mana
  • Trials of Mana
  • Visions of Mana

For many years, Final Fantasy II has been considered one of the weaker games from the series’ original, 2D era. This is mainly because of its unusual way of letting characters grow stronger. Instead of traditional leveling up, your characters improve by simply using their abilities, which can be confusing. This system often requires players to repeat actions and can lead to characters developing unevenly if not carefully managed. Despite its divisiveness, most Final Fantasy fans agree that the Pixel Remaster version is the best way to experience the game, thanks to significant rebalancing and helpful new features like a modern user interface.

Expect More Game Pass News Today

Xbox Game Pass had a strong start to February 2026, with three new games added within three days. A surprise hit was Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, which appeared on the service on February 2nd, following the release of the unique adventure game Indika earlier that day. While the next game isn’t due until February 5th, Microsoft is expected to share more Game Pass announcements soon. Following their usual schedule, the first batch of games for this month will likely be officially revealed later today, around 10am Eastern Time.

Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.

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Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Arrivals with Confirmed Release Dates

Date Game Game Pass Tier(s) Platform(s) Notes
Feb 3 Final Fantasy 2 Ultimate, Premium, PC Cloud, PC, Series X/S
Feb 5 Menace Ultimate, PC PC Game Preview; day-one release.
Feb 13 High on Life 2 Ultimate, PC Cloud, PC, Series X/S Day-one release.
Feb 26 Towerborne Premium Cloud, PC, Series X/S Day-one 1.0 release. Available in Game Preview on XGP Ultimate and PC GP since Apr 2025.
Mar 12 Replaced Ultimate, PC Cloud, PC, Series X/S Day-one release.
Mar 26 Nova Roma Ultimate, PC PC Day-one release.
May 19 Forza Horizon 6 Ultimate, PC Cloud, PC, Series X/S Day-one release.

Just a heads-up: Madden NFL 24 will be removed from Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming on February 15th. While this is a small number of games leaving at once, it’s possible more titles will be announced for removal in the near future, likely when the next set of games leaving in February 2026 is revealed.

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2026-02-03 15:06