All the Xbox Game Pass games coming and leaving soon ~ System Admin Stuff

Discover every new game coming to Xbox Game Pass right here.

Xbox Game Pass is the ever-expanding Netflix-like gaming subscription from Microsoft, the makers of Xbox. For a monthly subscription, Xbox Game Pass partakers gain access to a constantly rotating catalog of hundreds of high-quality Xbox games. The best Xbox Game Pass games include third-party multiplayer games, older AAA titles, indie projects, all first-party Microsoft games, and pretty much everything in between.

Xbox Game Pass is also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, an all-in-one subscription that gives players full access to Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles, Xbox Game Pass on PC, Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud), and even EA Play. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate represents one of the best values in gaming, and that value only increases from month to month.

That's because Xbox Game Pass is always adding new games, with announcements once or twice a month. While games occasionally leave the service, the number of games available through Xbox Game Pass has been steadily growing since its launch. In this Xbox Game Pass guide, we'll go over all the new games coming to the service, the games about to leave, and the top games you should be keeping an eye on.

If you want the complete list, be sure to bookmark our ultimate guide to every game on Xbox Game Pass.

Note: Bold text indicates the game in question is coming to that platform, but is already available on other platforms through Xbox Game Pass.

Best new Xbox Game Pass games: August 2021

You'll rarely go wrong with the diverse selection of games on Xbox Game Pass, but there are always a handful of titles that stand above the rest — including but not limited to exceptional indie games, addictive multiplayer games, expansive AAA games, and Microsoft's first-party games. These are the best new games that have recently arrived on Xbox Game Pass.

Skate 3

Available: Aug. 5 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) via EA Play

Skate 3 has been showing its age for a while now, but it's still a fantastic and light-hearted skateboarding game filled with laughs, and Xbox backward compatibility makes it easy to play on newer consoles. Skate 3 was already available through Xbox Game Pass, thanks to EA Play, but you can now bring EA's skateboarding fan favorite on the go with Xbox Cloud Gaming support.

The Ascent

Available: July 29 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

The Ascent may hail from a smaller team of talented developers, but you wouldn't be able to tell through its genre-leading visuals and world design. The Ascent is a crazy cyberpunk action-RPG set in a ridiculously detailed and gruesome world, and it launched day one into Xbox Game Pass. While not a perfect game, especially for RPG fans, The Ascent was well worth the wait, and looks fantastic on Xbox Series X|S.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Available: July 27 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC)

Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the most breathtakingly gorgeous and unbelievably grand games you can play, and can offer a relaxing cruise around the globe for casual players or an unerringly realistic simulation experience for veteran fliers both. Now, Microsoft Flight Simulator is on Xbox, and it's a wonderful port and a technical showcase for Xbox Series X|S. Of course, Microsoft Flight Simulator is also available through Xbox Game Pass on both consoles and PC.

Xbox Game Pass new games: Full list and schedule

It can be easy to lose track of all the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass, so we've compiled the full list for your convenience. In this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide, learn what games have been released on Xbox Game Pass recently, when they became available, and what platforms on which they're available.

Aug. 11

Boyfriend Dungeon (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC)

Aug. 10

Library of Ruina (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
DiRT 5 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) via EA Play
DiRT 4 (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
DiRT Rally (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
DiRT Rally 2.0 (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
F1 2020 (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
F1 2019 (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
GRID (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play

Aug. 5

Curse of the Dead Gods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Dodgeball Academia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Katamari Damacy REROLL (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Lumines Remastered (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Skate (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play
Skate 3 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) via EA Play
Starmancer (PC)

July 29

Lethal League Blaze (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Omno (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Project Wingman (PC)
The Ascent (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

July 27

Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC)

What's coming to Xbox Game Pass soon

Microsoft loves to give Xbox Game Pass subscribers plenty of time to prepare for upcoming additions by announcing them early. This section of our Xbox Game Pass will help you keep track of all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass shortly, so you can decide what you want to play and whether you need to free up some space.

Aug. 12

Art of Rally (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Aug. 13

Hades (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Aug. 17

Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition (PC)

Aug. 19

12 Minutes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Aug. 25

Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

What's leaving Xbox Game Pass soon

For the most part, more games join Xbox Game Pass than leave. However, most games do leave the service eventually, so Microsoft likes to give players a heads up if they hadn't gotten around to playing that game yet. Keep an eye on this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide for games you still want to play. If you see a game you've played and loved, be sure to purchase it with your Xbox Game Pass discount so you can keep it forever.

Aug. 8

Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Aug. 15

Ape Out (PC)
Crossing Souls (PC)
Darksiders Genesis (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Don't Starve (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Final Fantasy VII (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC)
Train Sim World 2020 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Upcoming games launching on Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft gives us updates on games heading to Xbox Game Pass a few weeks before those games become available, usually twice a month. However, Xbox and ID@Xbox events toss aside this expectation to announce a flurry of games that are hitting Xbox Game Pass day and date, meaning they're launching into the service when they land on Xbox platforms. That means day one access to all of these games for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including some of the best upcoming Xbox games.

Many of these games are far enough out that they don't even have a release date, and we're not certain exactly which platforms they'll come to through Xbox Game Pass. Still, this list in our Xbox Game Pass guide will give you an idea of what to look out for in the future of Xbox Game Pass. We'll constantly update this list as we get new information about release dates, when games become available, and what platforms are getting them.

The following events have been added to this section:

ID@Xbox Games Showcase — March 26, 2021

Art of the Rally (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 12, 2021
Astria Ascending (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021
Among Us (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) — 2021
Backbone (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date
Craftopia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — Unknown release date
Dead Static Drive (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — Unknown release date
Edge of Eternity (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021
Hello Neighbor 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021
Little Witch in the Woods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date
Moonglow Bay (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) — 2021
Nobody Saves the World (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021
Recompile (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) — 2021
Sable (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Sept. 23, 2021
She Dreams Elsewhere (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — Unknown release date
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — April 28, 2022
Undungeon (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) — Unknown release date
Way to the Woods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Unknown release date

Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase at E3 2021 — June 13, 2021

Starfield (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Nov. 11, 2022
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chernobyl (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — April 28, 2022
Back 4 Blood (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Xbox One) — Oct. 12, 2022
Contraband (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — No release date
12 Minutes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 19, 2021
Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 25, 2021
Party Animals (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2022
Hades (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) — Aug. 13, 2021
Somerville (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2022
Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Holidays 2021
A Plague Tale: Requiem (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — 2022
Slime Rancher 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2022
Shredders (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Dec. 2021
Atomic Heart (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — No release date
Replaced (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) — 2022
Among Us (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) — 2021
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2022
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2023
Age of Empires IV (PC) — Oct. 28, 2021
The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — No release date
Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Nov. 9, 2021
Redfall (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Summer 2022
Aragami 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Sept. 17, 2021
Sable (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Sept. 23, 2021
Scorn (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Fall 2021
The Anacrusis (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Fall 2021
Hello Neighbor 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021
The Gunk (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — 2021

ID@Xbox Games Showcase — August 2021

Aragami 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Sept. 17, 2021
Evil Genius 2: World Domination (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Winter 2021
Pupparazzi (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — No release date
Stardew Valley (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) — Fall 2021
The Artful Escape (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) — Sept. 9, 2021

Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks upcoming games

Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Holidays 2021
Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 25, 2021
Senua's Saga: Hellblade II (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Avowed (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Fable (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Everwild (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Perfect Dark (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Unknown release date
Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Nov. 9, 2021
Starfield (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Nov. 11, 2022
Contraband (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — No release date
Age of Empires IV (PC) — Oct. 28, 2021
The Outer Worlds 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — No release date
Redfall (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) — Summer 2022

Xbox Game Pass adds new games all the time, but there's already a vast selection of high-quality titles available for gamers to play. Check out our list of best games on Xbox Game Pass for some fantastic ideas on what you should play next. You can also pick up one of the best external SSDs for Xbox Series X|S to ensure you always have enough storage for all these games.

A catalog of games

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

From $1/month at Microsoft $40 at Amazon (3-month subscription) $15 at Amazon (1-month subscription)

All your gaming needs, in one subscription

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on the go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.

System Admin Stuff

Thursday, 12 August 2021