Free Play Days: Forza Motorsport & The Escapists

Sure thing. Here we go:

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Ah, May. When the sun starts peeking out and everything feels… possible? Or something. Anyway, here’s the scoop: Xbox is being all generous with a two-for-one gaming fiesta this weekend. Weird, right? But cool. Starts today, like now, at 12:01 AM if you’re on Pacific time, and poof, gone by Sunday at 11:59 PM. Look, time zones confuse me too.

First up, “The Escapists.” It’s available for all the Xbox Game Pass peeps — Ultimate, Standard, and, um, Core. I guess they want to cover all bases. Imagine you, plotting your escape from prison. Fascinating stuff, if a bit unnerving. Makes me wonder why I’m drawn to it. But I am. Oh, and “Forza Motorsport” is also free for anyone with an Xbox account. No special membership badges needed. Feel free to roll your eyes at the membership mumbo jumbo. Sometimes, simplicity just wins.

Now, before you start hollering, “I’m in! How do I play?”, here’s the deal: head over to Xbox.com, find these games, and slap that install button. They’ll whisk you over to the Microsoft Store, and guess you gotta log in. But you knew that, right? On your console, just navigate — I mean, that’s the fancy word for clicking a few buttons — over to the Subscriptions tab. There you’ll find the Free Play Days collection. Easy peasy… or at least, it should be.

Okay, here’s the kicker: if you’re smitten and can’t let go, there’s a discount waiting post-weekend. Buy the game, keep all your hard-earned achievements. Honestly, I’ve never quite wrapped my head around these digital trophies, but hey, if they’re your jam… I digress. Discounts and availabilities might bob and weave depending on where you are `cause life just loves throwing curveballs.

Let’s break somewhere a tad chaotic, shall we? Picture this: Forza Motorsport has you steering through epic tracks like Nürburgring Nordschleife—try saying that five times fast—while the sky changes, and the weather has a change of heart every so often. It’s like they’re trying to simulate life. You can race with over 500 cars. It’s bonkers, right? Anyway, take mental notes of the drifts and the little radar thingy they added. Not that you’d crash, but… whoops, lost my train of thought with the car metaphor.

Now, shifting gears back to “The Escapists” — all about busting out of the clink. Yeah, seriously. We’re talking a crafty prison break simulator. You juggle daily routines and, next thing you know, you’re scheming your grand escape. Wild stuff. Again, why do I find this appealing? Maybe because breaking out beats being broke? Who knows.

So, folks, there you have it. Get comfy, grab a controller, and dive in. Or don’t. Totally up to you. Maybe it rains. Maybe it doesn’t. Share the games with friends… or not. Up to you, really. Enjoy whatever this long weekend throws at you!