Game Pass comes out fighting with Guilty Gear -Strive- and an unholy amount of DLC

There’s something of a surprise drop onto Xbox and Game Pass today, as we get day-one brawler Guilty Gear -Strive-, in all its oddly hyphenated glory. 

Arc System Works have gone the route of launching as a mid-price title, sitting at a tempting £29.98, and releasing simultaneously on Game Pass. The catch is that there is a boatload of DLC and new characters to purchase separately. So, you’re paying what you want, buying characters like Baiko and Jack-O’ if you fancy using them. It’s not our preferred way of paying for a fighter, but the reduced price and opportunity to pick the fighters that suit you may somehow be appealing. 

Guilty Gear -Strive- is new to Xbox but has been ripping it up on PC and PlayStation since June 2021. While the Xbox release is undoubtedly delayed, we’re getting most of the DLC in a chunk, rather than having to wait. Silver linings and all that.

Something of a thinking fighter’s fighter, the Guilty Gear series has been a staple of competitions like Evo for some time. It’s known for its hybrid 2D/3D cell-shaded graphics, and there’s a fully voiced story mode that dives deep into the series’ lore. The gameplay, too, is as easy-to-learn, hard-to-master as it has always been, but with some playful new additions like a wall-breaking mechanic. 

if you’re after a key features list, we’ve got you covered…

• ◆Amazing Graphics and Animations – The cutting-edge 2D/3D hybrid graphics pioneered in the Guilty Gear series have been raised to the next level in “Guilty Gear -Strive-“. The new artistic direction and improve character animations will go beyond anything you’ve seen before in a fighting game!
• ◆New Revolution in Fighting Games! – Guilty Gear -Strive- brings a number of new and innovative game play mechanics designed to allow players new to the series to quickly learn the fundamentals while maintaining the deep, creative gameplay Guilty Gear is praised for. New additions to the series such as a wall-breaking mechanic will allow for new and exciting approaches to battle.
• ◆The fate of the universe will be determined… – The story of Guilty Gear, spanning over 20 years, will finally come to a conclusion in “Guilty Gear -Strive-“. The trials and tribulations of the series’ heroes and villains will finally be resolved. Discover the astonishing truth awaiting at the end of all things.

Guilty Gear -Strive- comes in three purchasable formats. There’s the Standard / Game Pass and £29.98 version that we’ve already mentioned, giving you the basic fighting package without any DLC. Then there’s £47.98 edition which comes with the ‘Season Pass 1’, including the following:

• DLC Additional Colors
• DLC Additional Character 1 Goldlewis Dickinson
• DLC Additional Character 2 Jack-O’
• DLC Additional Character 3 Happy Chaos
• DLC Additional Character 4 Baiken
• DLC Additional Character 5 Testament
• DLC Additional Battle Stage “Lap of the Kami”
• DLC Additional Battle Stage “White House Reborn”
• DLC Additional Another Story

Finally, there’s the Ultimate Edition 2022, which includes all of the following for a hefty £59.98:

• DLC Additional Colors
• DLC Additional Character 1 Goldlewis Dickinson
• DLC Additional Character 2 Jack-O’
• DLC Additional Character 3 Happy Chaos
• DLC Additional Character 4 Baiken
• DLC Additional Character 5 Testament
• DLC Additional Battle Stage “Lap of the Kami”
• DLC Additional Battle Stage “White House Reborn”
• DLC Additional Another Story
• DLC Additional Color Pack #2
• DLC character #6 Bridget
• DLC character #7 Sin Kiske
• DLC character #8 ??? (Scheduled for release in 2023)
• DLC character #9 ??? (Scheduled for release in 2023)
• DLC stage #3 (Scheduled for release in 2023)
• DLC stage #4 (Scheduled for release in 2023)
• Guilty Gear -Strive- Ultimate Edition Exclusive Colors
• GGST Digital Artworks and Soundtrack

Alternatively, you can purchase the DLC and Season Passes separately. The Season Passes are £19.99 (£17.99 for the launch period) and the individual characters at £5.78 (£5.20 for launch). 

It’s enough payment  options to make our head spin. If you’d like to find out more, head to the Xbox Store and pick up an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S version of the game. It’s also on Playstation and PC through Steam. 

Review, you say? Yeah, ours is coming soon. 

Game Description:

“Guilty Gear -Strive-“ is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed Guilty Gear fighting game franchise. Created by Daisuke Ishiwatari and developed by Arc System Works, “Guilty Gear -Strive-“ upholds the series’ reputation for groundbreaking hybrid 2D/3D cell-shaded graphics and intense, rewarding gameplay. There is a fully voiced story mode diving deep into the Guilty Gear universe, new characters joining fan favorites, and robust rollback net code.