Eighteen games left Xbox Game Pass in July 2026, in two waves. Ten titles, including PowerWash Simulator and Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, left on July 15. Eight more, including Celeste and Crusader Kings 3, followed on July 31. This guide covers the full list, what it meant for each subscription tier, and what Microsoft added in exchange. polygon.com
Which games left Xbox Game Pass in July 2026?
The two official lists come from Xbox Wire. Both waves appeared in the Game Pass app’s “Leaving Soon” section before the removal dates.
| Removal date | Games removed | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| July 15 | Dungeons of Hinterberg, EA Sports Football Club 24, Golf With Your Friends, Minami Lane, PowerWash Simulator, Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, Stellaris, Techtonica (Game Preview), Super Fantasy Kingdom (Game Preview) | Cloud, console and PC; Super Fantasy Kingdom was PC only |
| July 31 | Back to the Dawn, Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, My Friendly Neighborhood, Rain World, Sniper Elite: Resistance, Whiskerwood | Cloud, console and PC; Whiskerwood was PC only |
Why do some sites report different totals? The lists changed during the month. Microsoft briefly pulled My Friendly Neighborhood, Back to the Dawn and Whiskerwood from the early-July list, then they reappeared in the July 31 wave. Early articles therefore cited anywhere from 9 to 16 departures. The final Xbox Wire figures give 18.
A note on June 30. Several titles often listed alongside July removals actually left a day earlier. Mecha Break, Payday 2 (console), Rise of the Tomb Raider, Slay the Spire, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Ultimate Chicken Horse, Unpacking and Volcano Princess all left on June 30. If a game is missing from your library and isn’t in the table above, check that list.
Which July removals hurt the most?
Three losses stood out.
- The Tomb Raider run ended. Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider left in June, which left Shadow of the Tomb Raider as the only one in the catalog. Its July 15 exit means all three Survivor-trilogy games have now left.
- Two critical favorites went on July 31. Celeste and Crusader Kings 3 both scored above 90 on OpenCritic. Celeste is short enough to finish in a weekend. Crusader Kings 3 and Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord can take dozens of hours.
- A casual hit disappeared. PowerWash Simulator was one of the more recognizable casual hits on the service.
Two Game Preview titles, Techtonica and Super Fantasy Kingdom, also left. Early-access games often rotate out because their deals depend on development milestones.
The timing is predictable. Departures cluster on the 15th and the last day of the month. Microsoft discounts departing titles by at least 20% for members until they leave. One European outlet puts the typical stay at 12 to 18 months. Sniper Elite: Resistance fits that range, since it arrived on day one in late January 2025. stevivor.com
What did Game Pass add in July 2026?
July was heavy on arrivals, led by a Halo remake. The Xbox Wire announcements list these additions:
- Day-one titles for Ultimate and PC Game Pass: Ascend to Zero (July 13), Shift at Midnight (July 22), Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28) and Mistfall Hunter (July 30).
- Halo: Campaign Evolved: A remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign with up to four-player online co-op and three new missions.
- New to Premium: Gears of War: Reloaded (July 9) and Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (July 15) joined Premium, having already been on Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Hell Is Us (July 23) launched on Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 joined Premium on July 2.
- Also in July: The Planet Crafter, Palworld 1.0 (as a game update), Mavrix by Matt Jones, FixForce, PBA Pro Bowling 2026 and Buckshot Roulette.
What happened to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2? It was announced for July 21 and then pulled. Microsoft later said it had not been canceled. Reports point to licensing issues, but Microsoft has not confirmed what the licensing issue was. I found no replacement date.
Does a removal affect every Game Pass tier?
A removal ends access on every plan that carried the game. Xbox Wire lists departures by platform (cloud, console, PC) rather than by tier, so there are no separate Essential, Premium and Ultimate removal lists. Every title in both July waves was available on PC. What you lose depends on which plan you pay for.
| Plan | US price | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | $9.99 (£6.99 UK) | Price unchanged by the April 2026 cuts. It gets in-game benefits, such as League of Legends and Wuthering Waves rewards. |
| Premium | $14.99 (£10.99 UK) | Carries many back-catalog and “new to Premium” titles, but not day-one launches. |
| PC Game Pass | $13.99 | Cut from $16.49 in April. PC-only library with EA Play and first-party games on day one. |
| Ultimate | $22.99 | Cut from $29.99, with future Call of Duty titles no longer launching on day one. Adds EA Play Vault, Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew. |
Ultimate subscribers are the least exposed to removals. Extra EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics titles supplement the main library, though they don’t replace departed games.
How do you prepare before a game leaves?
- Check the Leaving Soon section in the Game Pass app or on Xbox Wire. Both July waves appeared there before they took effect.
- Sort by length. Finish short games first, such as Celeste or Golf With Your Friends, and triage the 60-hour strategy titles.
- Use the member discount if you want to keep something. After removal, playing a game means buying it outright.
- Don’t count on a return. Games can come back, but there is no guarantee.
What changed after July?
August removals. Four games left on August 15: Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand, MENACE (Game Preview) and Firewatch. Five more left on August 31: Neon Abyss, One Lonely Outpost, Another Crab’s Treasure, I Am Your Beast and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. NBA 2K26 follows on September 6. That is nine departures in August, half of July’s total.
Cloud gaming caps. Starting in November 2026, Xbox will replace unlimited cloud streaming with monthly hours: 5 on Essential, 10 on Premium and 15 on Ultimate. PC Game Pass doesn’t include cloud gaming. Xbox says about 4% of subscribers are affected. If you stream often, the number of cloud-playable games leaving matters less than the hours you’ll have left each month.
Final thoughts
July 2026 was a heavier month for departures than August, but it was offset by Halo: Campaign Evolved, Hell Is Us and a wave of Premium additions. Whether the churn bothers you depends on your tier and how you play. Console subscribers should watch the Leaving Soon list each fortnight. Cloud streamers should plan around the November limits.
FAQ Section
What changed in Xbox Game Pass in July 2026?
Eighteen games left in two waves: ten on July 15 and eight on July 31. Additions included Gears of War: Reloaded and Quarantine Zone: The Last Check on Premium, and day-one launches of Halo: Campaign Evolved and Mistfall Hunter on Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was pulled from the schedule.
What came to Xbox Game Pass in August 2026?
Xbox Wire announced two waves. The first added Monsters Are Coming!, PowerWash Simulator 2, Bounty Star, Date Everything!, Grounded 2 (Game Preview) and Egging On, with more following. Wave 2 included BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Relooted, Starsand Island, Blood Dungeon, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and Young Suns.
How can I tell whether an Xbox Game Pass game is leaving soon?
Open the “Leaving Soon” section of the Game Pass app, or read the “Leaving” list at the bottom of each Xbox Wire announcement. Departing titles are discounted by at least 20% for members until they go.
What is PC Game Pass and how does it differ from Ultimate?
PC Game Pass costs $13.99 a month in the US and gives you a PC-only library with EA Play and first-party games on day one. It does not include console games, Fortnite Crew or cloud gaming. Ultimate costs $22.99 and covers console, PC, cloud streaming and the extras.
When did games leave Game Pass in August 2026?
Four games left on August 15 and five on August 31. NBA 2K26 follows on September 6.
Which games left Game Pass in August 2026?
On August 15: Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand, Firewatch and MENACE (Game Preview). On August 31: Another Crab’s Treasure, I Am Your Beast, Neon Abyss, One Lonely Outpost and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
Why did Sniper Elite: Resistance leave Game Pass?
Microsoft hasn’t given a game-specific reason. It left on July 31, 2026, about 18 months after joining on day one. Publisher agreements for catalog titles are time-limited, and games routinely rotate out, but the terms for this deal are not public.
What is Xbox Cloud Gaming and who can use it?
It’s Microsoft’s streaming service, included with Essential, Premium and Ultimate but not PC Game Pass. It plays supported games on compatible screens with a stable connection. From November 2026, monthly cloud hours will be capped at 5, 10 and 15 on Essential, Premium and Ultimate respectively.
Author Bio: Hamid Ali is a gaming and technology writer covering Xbox Game Pass, video game releases, gaming subscriptions, and industry updates. He creates clear, research-based guides to help players track new releases, compare subscription plans, and make informed gaming decisions.
Author Name: Hamid Ali
Email: johanharwen314@gmail.com
Also Read:
