Alright, Game Pass Just Conjured Up a New Adventure: Herdling's Here (And Your Backlog Just Grew, Mate)
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate just dropped 'Herdling,' a unique, wordless adventure from the creators of the 'FAR' series, as a day-one release. While Standard tier subscribers might have to wait for this charming exploration game, it's a stellar addition to an already packed month for Game Pass, balancing indie innovation with blockbuster releases and the inevitable departures.
Right, so I've been tinkering with the digital tea leaves this morning, and bloody hell, Xbox Game Pass has gone and done it again. Not content with just being a veritable buffet of pixels, they've now dropped 'Herdling' onto the service as a day-one release. And trust me, it's one of those gems that makes you pause and go, 'Huh, what's *this* all about?'
You know that feeling when you're exploring some forgotten digital realm, and you stumble upon a little pocket of pure, unadulterated charm? That's the vibe I'm getting from 'Herdling'. Coming from Okomotive, the clever bods behind the rather melancholic but utterly beautiful 'FAR: Lone Sails' and 'FAR: Changing Tides', this game has pedigree. If you've ever guided a lonely land-ship through a post-apocalyptic landscape and felt a strange sense of peace, then you're probably already nodding along, mate.
'Herdling' tasks you with guiding these fantastical critters called Calicorns – sounds like something straight out of a wizard's sketchbook, doesn't it? – through a mountainous, end-of-the-world landscape. It's pitched as a 'wordless tale of trust,' packed with environmental puzzles and designed for folks who like their apocalypse with a side of zen. Think exploration, quiet reflection, and probably some satisfying 'aha!' moments when you figure out how to get your fluffy charges past a tricky bit. Frankly, it sounds like the perfect antidote to a particularly chaotic week, a digital balm for the soul.
Now, for the nitty-gritty of the Game Pass magic: 'Herdling' is live *right now* for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. That's a day-one drop, straight onto your hard drive or streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Fair dinkum, that’s a solid win for those of us paying for the top tier. It’s the eleventh new title for August 2025 – yes, we're talking about the future, because time is a flat circle, especially in gaming news – and the 106th new release since the year started for Ultimate folks. That’s a lot of gaming, even for the most dedicated dungeon diver.
But here’s where my gentle skepticism – or perhaps, clever observation – kicks in. You might be wondering, 'Jeff, what about us plebs on Xbox Game Pass Standard?' Good question, you curious gamer, you! Turns out, 'Herdling' isn't on the Standard tier just yet. If Okomotive's previous Game Pass dance with 'FAR: Changing Tides' is anything to go by (it arrived on Game Pass in March 2022 and then vanished in February 2023, like a spell fading after a year), then we're likely looking at a wait of six to twelve months. My digital tea leaves suggest it'll probably pop up on Standard sometime between February and August 2026, then perhaps do its disappearing act around its first anniversary on that tier. It's a bit of a pattern, isn't it? Like watching a magical cauldron bubble, with ingredients appearing and vanishing at a seemingly pre-ordained pace.
And speaking of that bubbling cauldron, 'Herdling' isn't the only big-name ingredient coming our way this month. Before August 2025 wraps up, we're also getting a double dose of gaming goodness. 'Gears of War: Reloaded,' the second remaster of the iconic 2006 shooter, is slated for August 26. Then, just two days later, BioWare's highly anticipated 'Dragon Age: The Veilguard' makes its grand entrance. Plus, if you're peering further into the future, we've got Frostpunk 2, Ball x Pitt, Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2 all marked as day-one drops later in the year. It's a veritable tidal wave of content, enough to drown the most organised backlog, mate.
Of course, with great additions come great…departures. Come August 31, we're waving goodbye to five titles, including 'Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay' (a moment of silence for the younger gamers, perhaps?), the mighty 'Borderlands 3,' and the rather lovely 'Sea of Stars.' 'Ben 10: Power Trip' and 'This War of Mine: Final Cut' are also packing their bags. It's the circle of Game Pass life, I suppose – a constant ebb and flow that keeps things fresh, if a little heartbreaking when your favourite indie gem suddenly vanishes into the ether.
So, what does this all mean for you, the curious gamer? Well, if you're an Ultimate subscriber, you've got a unique, chill adventure waiting for you right now with 'Herdling.' If you're on Standard, you might have to practice a little patience, or maybe, just maybe, consider upgrading your magical subscription tier. Either way, it's another reminder that Game Pass continues to be a fascinating, slightly chaotic, and often surprisingly generous beast in the gaming landscape. Go on, give those Calicorns a guide, mate. You know you want to.
Source: Game Rant
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, Indie Games, Adventure Games, Gaming Industry, Okomotive
Original article: Game Rant