August 31 will be the last day that Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play two of the subscription service's best co-op games: Borderlands 3 and Sea of Stars. Xbox Game Pass gives subscribers access to all kinds of high-quality games, including a healthy selection of co-op titles that support both local and online.
Local co-op used to be the norm, but the past couple of decades have seen the industry focus almost entirely on online co-op experiences. That makes it special whenever a game comes out that supports local co-op play, and it also makes it especially disappointing whenever local co-op games are given the boot from services like Xbox Game Pass. Unfortunately, Xbox Game Pass is set to lose two of its better local co-op games in the very near future.
August 31 is Going to Be a Sad Day for Xbox Game Pass Subscribers
Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be losing access to some of the service's best games on August 31.
Borderlands 3 and Sea of Stars Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass
After August 31, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will lose access to Borderlands 3 and Sea of Stars, which stand as two of the best local co-op experiences on the platform. Borderlands 3 features 2-player split-screen throughout the entire game, and while there were technical issues with the feature at launch, it's a lot better on more powerful hardware. Sea of Stars, meanwhile, offers local co-op play for up to three players, giving fans the chance to experience the critically-acclaimed turn-based RPG with friends.
Borderlands 3 is a massive FPS adventure that features multiple classes, billions of guns, and dozens of hours of content. Sea of Stars is no content-slouch either, with a story that will take about 25-30 hours to get through, plus a free DLC expansion that adds even more content to the mix. Some Xbox Game Pass subscribers may not have even realized that Sea of Stars supported local co-op, but that's because it didn't launch with the feature. Sea of Stars co-op was added in an update late last year.
Fill List of Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving August 2025
- Ben 10: Power Trip
- Borderlands 3
- Paw Patrol: Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay
- Sea of Stars
- This War of Mine: Final Cut
It's sad that Xbox Game Pass is losing access to these local co-op games, but the good news is that it just added a rather substantial one. Gears of War: Reloaded is now on Xbox Game Pass, and like the other versions of the beloved third-person shooter, it features local co-op support for its campaign. More local co-op games will no doubt be added to Xbox Game Pass in the future, so fans should keep an eye out.
