Xbox Game Pass Adds XCOM-Like Day-One Game, Plus Two More

Menace is now available on Xbox Game Pass, having launched in early access on February 5. While it's a PC-only title, Xbox Game Pass today also added two additional games that are fully multi-platform.

Created by German developer Overhype Studios and published by Hooded Horse, Menace is a sci-fi tactical RPG where players take control of a strike force that responds to various threats around the galaxy. Between this premise and its wide range of specialization options, plenty of previews have likened the game to modern XCOM entries.

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By  Dominik Bošnjak

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Adds Menace, Madden NFL 26, and More

Menace launched in early access on February 5, which is also when it joined Xbox Game Pass as part of the Game Preview program. Arriving alongside it are Madden NFL 26 and PAW Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship. The early access version of Menace is limited to PC, and no additional platforms have yet been confirmed. Conversely, Madden NFL 26 and PAW Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship are playable on both PC and the latest two generations of Xbox consoles, as well as via Xbox Cloud Gaming. The PAW Patrol racing game is even rated suitable for Windows-powered handhelds.

Of the newly added trio, only PAW Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is playable via Xbox Game Pass Premium, while the other two require PC Game Pass or XGP Ultimate. There is no fixed timeline for how long third-party day-one titles take to move from the Ultimate to Premium tier. However, under a typical year-long licensing agreement, most make that transition after about six months. Madden NFL 26 isn't expected to do so because it requires the EA Play add-on, which is only available to PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Busy Days Are Ahead for Xbox Game Pass

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Seven more titles are confirmed to be coming to Xbox Game Pass in February 2026. Relooted is arriving on February 10, followed by BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Roadside Research, and Starsand Island on February 12. For the following day, Kingdom Come Deliverance and High on Life 2 are scheduled to arrive. Apart from Menace, High on Life 2 is the only other title currently confirmed for a day-one Xbox Game Pass release in February 2026.

Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Releases

Ubisoft's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Obsidian's well-received RPG Avowed are coming to the service on February 17. Avowed originally joined Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on February 18, 2025, making this a close call for Microsoft’s commitment to bring new first-party Xbox titles to Xbox Game Pass Premium within a year of their release.

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Menace

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RPG

Tactical

Strategy

Horror

Adventure

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Released

February 5, 2026

Developer(s)

Overhype Studios

Publisher(s)

Hooded Horse

Number of Players

Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown

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DIGITAL

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Genre(s)

RPG, Tactical, Strategy, Horror, Adventure

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