Xbox Game Pass is adding 13 games across the second half of this month and early October, giving subscribers access to new releases and broader plan availability without buying each title separately. Microsoft has not announced any new subscription pricing, but the additions make the choice between Game Pass tiers more important for players planning their next few weeks.
The update is not made up entirely of brand-new arrivals. Seven games already available through parts of the service are expanding to Game Pass Premium, while six are new additions to the catalog. The schedule also stretches beyond September, with Keeper arriving on October 2 and Gears of War: E-Day following on October 6.
What is coming to Xbox Game Pass
The first wave of the second update lands on September 16, bringing four games to broader parts of the service. Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Planet of Lana II, Routine, and Sheep Raccoon will become available through Game Pass Premium while also joining the and PC Game Pass libraries. Their listed platforms include a mixture of cloud gaming, Xbox consoles, handheld devices, and PC, depending on the title.
Kernel Hearts arrives on September 17 as a new addition for Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscribers. It is listed for cloud gaming, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Ninja Gaiden 4 also arrives that day, expanding to Game Pass Premium while joining and PC Game Pass. The action game is listed for cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld devices, and PC.
Three more games follow on September 22. Dune: Awakening will be available through Game Pass , Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass, with support for cloud gaming, Xbox Series X|S, handheld devices, and PC. Well Dweller is a new and PC Game Pass addition spanning cloud, console, handheld, and PC access.
Mad King Redemption arrives on September 23 for , Premium, and PC Game Pass. It will be playable through cloud gaming, Xbox Series X|S, handheld devices, and PC. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 then expands to Game Pass Premium on September 25, while remaining available through and PC Game Pass across cloud, console, handheld, and PC.
The October additions could matter most
Minecraft Dungeons II is scheduled for September 29 through Game Pass , with cloud, console, handheld, and PC support. Keeper follows on October 2 for and PC Game Pass, with cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions listed.
The largest late addition is Gears of War: E-Day, scheduled for October 6. Microsoft lists it for Game Pass and PC Game Pass, with Xbox Series X|S, handheld, PC, and cloud availability. The release gives subscribers another major first-party game to watch, although the announcement does not provide file sizes, performance targets, or installation requirements.
For players using handheld hardware, the platform labels are particularly relevant. Cloud support can reduce the need for large downloads, while native handheld availability may offer better performance and offline flexibility. However, the announcement does not specify which handheld models are supported, so owners should check compatibility before assuming every listed title will run locally.
Eight games are leaving the service
The catalog expansion comes with the usual removals. Microsoft has confirmed that eight games will leave Game Pass this month:
• Atomfall
• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
• Little Nightmares 2 Enhanced Edition
• Little Rocket Lab
• Sifu
• SOPA: Tale of the Stolen Potato
• Sworn
• Terminull Brigade
The departures make the timing of the update useful for subscribers who have unfinished campaigns in those games. Players should check the Xbox app or console library for the exact removal notice attached to each title, then prioritize longer games such as Atomfall or Sifu before starting one of the new arrivals.
What subscribers should know
This lineup is strongest for members who want variety across single-player adventures, action games, and established franchises. Dune: Awakening, Kernel Hearts, and Gears of War: E-Day provide the clearest reasons to watch the schedule, while the Premium expansions give lower-tier subscribers access to games that were previously restricted to higher plans.
Still, the update does not mean every title is available on every tier. Subscribers should check the plan column before planning a download, particularly for games marked as or PC Game Pass additions. Global pricing and regional availability have not been announced beyond the listed Xbox Game Pass plans and platforms. With eight games also leaving, the practical value of this update depends less on the headline count than on whether the arriving titles match a player's preferred genre and hardware.
