Image via: Rebellion || Maddy Makes Games Inc || Videocult
Image via: Rebellion || Maddy Makes Games Inc || Videocult
The second wave of XBOX Game Pass removals is set to hit soon, and players may stand to lose access to fan-favorite titles. This includes a darling indie title, Celeste.
The previous wave came about on July 15, 2026, when 10 games were removed from the Game Pass, including the likes of EA Sports FC 24 and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded
By the end of July 2026, the eight games going out are as follows:
- Back to the Dawn — console, PC, cloud
- Celeste — console, PC, cloud
- Crusader Kings 3 — console, PC, cloud
- Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord — console, PC, cloud
- My Friendly Neighborhood — console, PC, cloud
- Rain World — console, PC, cloud
- Sniper Elite: Resistance — console, PC, cloud
- Whiskerwood — PC
Dhaka, Bangladesch - 19. September 2025: Eine Nahaufnahme eines weißen Gamepads mit dem Xbox Game Pass auf dem Bildschirm im Hintergrund. Dhaka, Bangladesh- 19 Sep 2025: A close-up of a white gamepad with the Xbox Game Pass seen on screen in the background. LicenseRM Copyright: xZoonar.com/MojahidxMottakinx 24224243
Dhaka, Bangladesch - 19. September 2025: Eine Nahaufnahme eines weißen Gamepads mit dem Xbox Game Pass auf dem Bildschirm im Hintergrund. Dhaka, Bangladesh- 19 Sep 2025: A close-up of a white gamepad with the Xbox Game Pass seen on screen in the background. LicenseRM Copyright: xZoonar.com/MojahidxMottakinx 24224243
The removals include several noteworthy titles as reported by Polygon's article. Sniper Elite: Resistance is one such game that gathered a Metacritic score of 75. The game was praised for its fantastic locations, satisfying sniping action, and franchise-familiar mechanics.
Apart from that, indie hit Celeste is another attention-grabbing removal. The game takes players on a deeply emotional journey as Madeline tries to climb Celeste Mountain while battling her inner demons.
The title came to XBOX Game Pass in 2020 and stayed there for about a year. It later returned to the service in 2023 and is now set to exit all over again.
Other worthwhile titles include RPGs such as Crusader Kings 3 and Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord. The former has been on Game Pass since 2020
Games leaving XBOX Game Pass isn't unusual, but it calls for attention amidst the broader company-wide restructuring plans.
Why Game Pass Losses Matter: XBOX's Restructuring and What's Next
On July 6, 2026, CEO Asha Sharma officially announced XBOX's restructuring. She admitted that though the Game Pass, among other ventures, created meaningful value, it did not meet the company's expectations.
In her lengthy message, she also announced that 3,200 roles would be terminated throughout FY 2027.
Studios like Double Fine, Arkane, Compulsion Games, Undead Labs, and Ninja Theory left the organization. Meanwhile, ZeniMax/Bethesda faced the brunt of job cuts like other divisions across XBOX.
Regardless, the company is moving forward. XBOX's Project Helix is reportedly in the works as Microsoft's next-generation consoles.
Furthermore, Bethesda has announced that Fallout 5 is in pre-production while work on The Elder Scrolls VI continues. So far, this is what is known about XBOX's future.
Are you excited for what comes next? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Prit Chauhan