To buy or not to buy? That is the question.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor swiftly became one of my top picks of 2023—it even clinched the title of the best adventure game of the year. Surpassing Fallen Order by leaps and bounds, it delivers a stellar space escapade, blending Sekiro-esque combat with a hefty dose of action-adventure. Yet, its rocky start on PC left much to be desired.
Plunging into a realm of ‘mostly negative’ Steam reviews due to understandable backlash, EA conceded that it fell short of expectations for a portion of PC players. Though subsequent patches have alleviated some issues, the game’s rough debut prompted many to seek early refunds on Steam—a move I can’t fault them for. Despite recent improvements, the stain remains evident, reflected in the game’s overall “Mixed” reviews, despite recent positivity.
But here’s the silver lining for those who turned away: there’s now an alternative without the need to open your wallet. Enter PC Game Pass. According to the Xbox website, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will join the EA Play library, meaning it’ll also be available on PC Game Pass: “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription.” Mark your calendars, as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor lands on Game Pass later this week, on April 25.
Sure, if you opted out to demand better PC ports with your spending power, this might not feel like the cleanest solution. After all, developers receive compensation from Microsoft for Game Pass inclusion through various arrangements, and it’s unlikely EA is offering a game less than a year old “for free” out of sheer benevolence. But let’s face it—business is business.
That said, if you’re already subscribed, this presents a prime opportunity to give the game another shot and gauge its performance. And the best part? It won’t cost you an extra cent. If you’re willing to let past grievances slide, I’d wholeheartedly recommend diving back in.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor stands tall as an exceptional game, especially after nearly a year of patches. Even on my outdated rig in 2023, I soldiered through choppy framerates, particularly in the expansive zones of Koboh, where Cal’s iconic mullet resembled more of a glossy, pixelated mess. Yet, despite the technical hiccups, traversing a galaxy far, far away felt exhilarating, akin to being the Prince of Persia with a touch of space magic. Plus, its plot twists left me audibly stunned—a rare feat indeed.
So, if you can stomach the delayed reconciliation with EA following its rocky launch, rest assured, it’s still worth the plunge.
