This week we dive into PowerWash Simulator 2, the long-anticipated sequel that finally launched in October 2025 and arrived day-one on Xbox Game Pass. We explore whether this follow-up keeps the relaxing magic of the first game or if it leans too heavily on the formula.In this episode, we break down:How the core loop evolves across 38 full jobs throughout Caldera County, with multi-stage tasks and larger, more complex environmentsThe expanded toolset: adjustable nozzles, surface cleaners, scissor lifts, and abseiling gear that add depth without overcomplicating the “power wash zen” the series is known forMajor multiplayer upgrades, including cross-play co-op, shared campaign progress, and split-screen local optionsThe new customizable “home base” that lets you decorate, store gear, and personalize your spaceLong-term support and whether the game feels built for regular content drops, DLC, and replay valueThen we ask the real question: does PowerWash Simulator 2 offer enough freshness to stand above the original, or is it simply a more polished version of what fans already love?Tune in for our full breakdown — and whether we say play it or pass it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;This week we dive into &lt;i&gt;PowerWash Simulator 2&lt;/i&gt;, the long-anticipated sequel that finally launched in October 2025 and arrived day-one on Xbox Game Pass. We explore whether this follow-up keeps the relaxing magic of the first game or if it leans too heavily on the formula.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we break down:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;How the core loop evolves across 38 full jobs throughout Caldera County, with multi-stage tasks and larger, more complex environments&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The expanded toolset: adjustable nozzles, surface cleaners, scissor lifts, and abseiling gear that add depth without overcomplicating the “power wash zen” the series is known for&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Major multiplayer upgrades, including cross-play co-op, shared campaign progress, and split-screen local options&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The new customizable “home base” that lets you decorate, store gear, and personalize your space&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Long-term support and whether the game feels built for regular content drops, DLC, and replay value&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Then we ask the real question: does &lt;i&gt;PowerWash Simulator 2&lt;/i&gt; offer enough freshness to stand above the original, or is it simply a more polished version of what fans already love?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Tune in for our full breakdown — and whether we say &lt;strong&gt;play it&lt;/strong&gt; or &lt;strong&gt;pass it&lt;/strong&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

This week we dive into PowerWash Simulator 2, the long-anticipated sequel that finally launched in October 2025 and arrived day-one on Xbox Game Pass. We explore whether this follow-up keeps the relaxing magic of the first game or if it leans too heavily on the formula.

PowerWash Simulator 2, Free Soap for Everyone!

Sometimes Game Pass drops something serious, sometimes something cinematic… and sometimes it drops a game where you launch balls into a pit and cause absolute mayhem. This week, we’re talking about Ball X Pit, a deceptively simple arcade-style title that’s all about physics-driven chaos, fast scoring, and “one more try” addiction.In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we break down what makes Ball X Pit work—and what doesn’t:The core gameplay loop and why it’s weirdly satisfying despite being so simpleHow the game ramps difficulty and unlocks new ball types, hazards, and pit modifiersWhether the physics feel tight and intentional or more on the unpredictable, goofy sideIf the game has enough depth to keep you hooked, or if it runs out of steam fastIs Ball X Pit the kind of score-chasing, dopamine-hit arcade fun that deserves a spot in your rotation? Or is it just another Game Pass curiosity you’ll play once and forget? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Sometimes Game Pass drops something serious, sometimes something cinematic… and sometimes it drops a game where you launch balls into a pit and cause absolute mayhem. This week, we’re talking about &lt;strong&gt;Ball X Pit&lt;/strong&gt;, a deceptively simple arcade-style title that’s all about physics-driven chaos, fast scoring, and “one more try” addiction.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;i&gt;Game Pass or Pass&lt;/i&gt;, we break down what makes &lt;strong&gt;Ball X Pit&lt;/strong&gt; work—and what doesn’t:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The core gameplay loop and why it’s weirdly satisfying despite being so simple&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;How the game ramps difficulty and unlocks new ball types, hazards, and pit modifiers&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Whether the physics feel tight and intentional or more on the unpredictable, goofy side&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If the game has enough depth to keep you hooked, or if it runs out of steam fast&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is &lt;strong&gt;Ball X Pit&lt;/strong&gt; the kind of score-chasing, dopamine-hit arcade fun that deserves a spot in your rotation? Or is it just another Game Pass curiosity you’ll play once and forget?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

 Ball X Pit, a deceptively simple arcade-style title that’s all about physics-driven chaos, fast scoring, and “one more try” addiction.

Ball X Pit, Is it Ball Cross Pit or Ball X Pit?

As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been.In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we sit down and talk through the massive shift Microsoft made at the start of October 2025: the full Xbox Game Pass revamp with new tiers (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), the 50% price hike on Ultimate to $29.99/month, the jump in PC Game Pass pricing, and the confusing split between day-one releases on Ultimate versus “within a year” access on other tiers. We break down what each tier actually gets you now, how that compares to just a couple of years ago, and why the current structure feels so wild and hard to message to normal players. We also dig into the broader context that got Xbox here: another major round of layoffs, around 9,000 jobs across Microsoft with thousands tied to Xbox; the closure of The Initiative; and the cancellation of high-profile first-party projects like Perfect Dark and Everwild, plus heavy cuts at Turn 10 and other studios. We talk honestly about how all of that undercuts the “we care about creators” messaging, and how it collides with Microsoft’s push toward a more PC-centric, multi-platform strategy where Xbox games show up on PlayStation, Switch, and Windows as services rather than true console exclusives. From there, we zoom out and look at where Game Pass sits going into 2026:Is Ultimate still worth the money after the price hikes and restructuring? <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/game-pass-gets-major-price-hike-to-offer-more-flexibility-choice-and-value-microsoft-says-with-a-completely-straight-face/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">PC Gamer+1</a>Does the new tier setup actually give players “more choice,” or just more confusion? What does Game Pass look like in a world where Microsoft is clearly prioritizing Windows, cloud, and publishing on competing hardware over building a strong console identity?We close the episode by looking across the aisle at PlayStation’s future hardware plans. Sony’s CFO is now on record saying PS5 is only “in the middle of its journey,” while leaks and reporting continue to point toward a PlayStation 6 sometime in the later part of this decade and a Switch-style PS6 handheld that’s designed around backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles. We talk about what a PS6 and PS6 handheld could mean for Xbox’s next console, and whether Microsoft’s current moves put them in a better place for that fight—or a weaker one. By the end of it, we’re asking a simple question with a messy answer: Is Game Pass still the best deal in gaming, or is Microsoft burning a lot of goodwill right as the next generation starts to come into view? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of &lt;i&gt;Game Pass or Pass&lt;/i&gt;, we sit down and talk through the massive shift Microsoft made at the start of October 2025: the full &lt;strong&gt;Xbox Game Pass revamp&lt;/strong&gt; with new tiers (Essential, Premium, and Ultimate), the &lt;strong&gt;50% price hike on Ultimate to $29.99/month&lt;/strong&gt;, the jump in PC Game Pass pricing, and the confusing split between day-one releases on Ultimate versus “within a year” access on other tiers. We break down what each tier actually gets you now, how that compares to just a couple of years ago, and why the current structure feels so wild and hard to message to normal players. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We also dig into the broader context that got Xbox here: &lt;strong&gt;another major round of layoffs&lt;/strong&gt;, around 9,000 jobs across Microsoft with thousands tied to Xbox; the closure of The Initiative; and the cancellation of high-profile first-party projects like &lt;strong&gt;Perfect Dark&lt;/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Everwild&lt;/strong&gt;, plus heavy cuts at Turn 10 and other studios. We talk honestly about how all of that undercuts the “we care about creators” messaging, and how it collides with Microsoft’s push toward a more PC-centric, multi-platform strategy where Xbox games show up on PlayStation, Switch, and Windows as services rather than true console exclusives. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From there, we zoom out and look at &lt;strong&gt;where Game Pass sits going into 2026&lt;/strong&gt;:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Is Ultimate still worth the money after the price hikes and restructuring? &lt;a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/games/game-pass-gets-major-price-hike-to-offer-more-flexibility-choice-and-value-microsoft-says-with-a-completely-straight-face/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank"&gt;PC Gamer+1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Does the new tier setup actually give players “more choice,” or just more confusion? &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What does Game Pass look like in a world where Microsoft is clearly prioritizing Windows, cloud, and publishing on competing hardware over building a strong console identity?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We close the episode by looking across the aisle at &lt;strong&gt;PlayStation’s future hardware plans&lt;/strong&gt;. Sony’s CFO is now on record saying PS5 is only “in the middle of its journey,” while leaks and reporting continue to point toward a &lt;strong&gt;PlayStation 6&lt;/strong&gt; sometime in the later part of this decade and a &lt;strong&gt;Switch-style PS6 handheld&lt;/strong&gt; that’s designed around backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 titles. We talk about what a PS6 and PS6 handheld could mean for Xbox’s next console, and whether Microsoft’s current moves put them in a better place for that fight—or a weaker one. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;By the end of it, we’re asking a simple question with a messy answer: &lt;strong&gt;Is Game Pass still the best deal in gaming, or is Microsoft burning a lot of goodwill right as the next generation starts to come into view?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

As we roll into the end of 2025, Xbox feels like it’s in the weirdest place it’s ever been.

The Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Console Mess

Two very different games. One episode.In this week’s Game Pass or Pass, we’re taking a look at the upcoming dark action RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and the hands-on creativity of Spray Paint Simulator. They couldn’t be further apart in tone, but both raise the question: does uniqueness automatically mean quality?We discuss:Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – How its Soulslike combat, plague-ridden setting, and folklore-driven narrative stack up against heavy hitters like Elden Ring and Lies of P. Does its style and atmosphere carry enough weight to stand on its own?Spray Paint Simulator – A completely different vibe, focusing on freedom of expression through tagging, murals, and customization. Is it a laid-back creative sandbox, or just another niche sim with limited staying power?The strange contrast of covering these two back-to-back, and what that says about the variety Game Pass offers.Which one we think has a stronger shot at holding player attention long-term.Do either of these titles have what it takes to be more than a curiosity on Game Pass? Or are they destined to fade into the backlog? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;Two very different games. One episode.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this week’s &lt;i&gt;Game Pass or Pass&lt;/i&gt;, we’re taking a look at the upcoming dark action RPG &lt;strong&gt;Wuchang: Fallen Feathers&lt;/strong&gt; and the hands-on creativity of &lt;strong&gt;Spray Paint Simulator&lt;/strong&gt;. They couldn’t be further apart in tone, but both raise the question: does uniqueness automatically mean quality?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We discuss:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Wuchang: Fallen Feathers&lt;/strong&gt; – How its Soulslike combat, plague-ridden setting, and folklore-driven narrative stack up against heavy hitters like &lt;i&gt;Elden Ring&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Lies of P&lt;/i&gt;. Does its style and atmosphere carry enough weight to stand on its own?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Spray Paint Simulator&lt;/strong&gt; – A completely different vibe, focusing on freedom of expression through tagging, murals, and customization. Is it a laid-back creative sandbox, or just another niche sim with limited staying power?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The strange contrast of covering these two back-to-back, and what that says about the variety Game Pass offers.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Which one we think has a stronger shot at holding player attention long-term.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Do either of these titles have what it takes to be more than a curiosity on Game Pass? Or are they destined to fade into the backlog?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

In this week’s Game Pass or Pass, we’re taking a look at the upcoming dark action RPG Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and the hands-on creativity of Spray Paint Simulator. They couldn’t be further apart in tone, but both raise the question: does uniqueness automatically mean quality?

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers & Spray Paint Simulator From Feathers to Graffiti –

We kick off this episode with a write-in discussion on the recent Microsoft layoffs and game cancellations, including the uncertainty around projects like Perfect Dark. It’s a tough conversation about the state of Xbox, studios, and what this means for players moving forward. In this episode of Game Pass or Pass, we dive in deep on the remaster’s biggest questions:Skating remade, but gospel intact: How Iron Galaxy rebuilt classic parks in stunning 4K, added new levels like Waterpark, Pinball, and Movie Studio, and expanded Create-A-Park tools—without losing that signature two-minute trick combo rush.More than nostalgia: New game modes—including New Game+—cross-platform multiplayer for up to eight players, fresh unlockables, and enhanced creation tools give it surprisingly lasting appeal.Trick-filled surprises: Guest skaters like TMNT’s Michelangelo are finally playable, alongside the Doom Slayer and modern pros like Riley Hawk—Tony’s real-life son, now skating in-game and making his mark in the family legacy.What fans are saying: Critics praise its faithful feel and presentation, although some note that THPS 4’s original open-ended career design was simplified back into traditional level progression.Does Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 stand as the skater’s rightful return, or does it skate by on nostalgia alone? Tune in to hear our full breakdown of how this remaster rides the line between reverence and reinvention. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

<description>&lt;p&gt;We kick off this episode with a write-in discussion on the recent &lt;strong&gt;Microsoft layoffs and game cancellations&lt;/strong&gt;, including the uncertainty around projects like &lt;i&gt;Perfect Dark&lt;/i&gt;. It’s a tough conversation about the state of Xbox, studios, and what this means for players moving forward.&lt;br /&gt;In this episode of &lt;i&gt;Game Pass or Pass&lt;/i&gt;, we dive in deep on the remaster’s biggest questions:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Skating remade, but gospel intact&lt;/strong&gt;: How Iron Galaxy rebuilt classic parks in stunning 4K, added new levels like Waterpark, Pinball, and Movie Studio, and expanded Create-A-Park tools—without losing that signature two-minute trick combo rush.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;More than nostalgia&lt;/strong&gt;: New game modes—including New Game+—cross-platform multiplayer for up to eight players, fresh unlockables, and enhanced creation tools give it surprisingly lasting appeal.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trick-filled surprises&lt;/strong&gt;: Guest skaters like TMNT’s Michelangelo are finally playable, alongside the Doom Slayer and modern pros like Riley Hawk—Tony’s real-life son, now skating in-game and making his mark in the family legacy.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What fans are saying&lt;/strong&gt;: Critics praise its faithful feel and presentation, although some note that THPS 4’s original open-ended career design was simplified back into traditional level progression.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Does &lt;strong&gt;Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4&lt;/strong&gt; stand as the skater’s rightful return, or does it skate by on nostalgia alone? Tune in to hear our full breakdown of how this remaster rides the line between reverence and reinvention.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br/&gt; &lt;p&gt;Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See &lt;a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com"&gt;pcm.adswizz.com&lt;/a&gt; for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

After years of fan waiting—and even cancelled plans—it’s finally here. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launched on July 11, 2025, bringing the iconic skateboarding duo to modern platforms with next-gen polish and nostalgia intact.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Now with More Doom

Xbox Game Pass is one of the best values for gamers on Xbox and on PC. But not every game is worth your time. On the Game Pass or Pass Podcast, we tell you which games you should download and which games you should pass on by

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