Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to at least four big games from Microsoft itself in 2026, but there will be plenty more games added to the service next year. 2025 has been a year of highs and lows for Xbox Game Pass. On one hand, this year has seen Xbox Game Pass treated to some of its absolute best day one games ever with titles like GOTY frontrunner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the beloved Metroidvania Hollow Knight: Silksong. On the other hand, the Xbox Game Pass price increase has been met with significant backlash.
Microsoft recently announced that the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate would be increasing to $30 per month. This triggered widespread outrage from subscribers, despite Microsoft's efforts to justify the increase by adding a slew of fresh games (including 2023 best-seller Hogwarts Legacy) and promising more day one games each year. Microsoft has committed to adding over 75 day one games to the Ultimate tier of Xbox Game Pass in 2026, and while many have yet to be announced, we do know of at least four massive games on the way for the service next year.
History of Xbox Game Pass Price Hikes Explained
To the chagrin of subscribers, Xbox Game Pass is increasing its cost once again, and it's far from the first time the service has seen a price hike.
In 2026, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can expect the big four Xbox franchises to grace the service as day one releases. Halo: Campaign Evolved will be coming to Game Pass day one in 2026 at an undetermined date, and it will be joined by the likes of the Gears of War prequel Gears of War: E-Day, the Japan-set open world racing game Forza Horizon 6, and the long-awaited Fable reboot. None of these games have solid release dates yet, but with 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of Xbox, Microsoft is going big by making sure its flagship franchisees are represented with new releases that will debut as day one Game Pass games.
But Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and Forza Horizon 6 are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new games coming to Game Pass in 2026. We know that Menace will be joining PC Game Pass on February 5, and we also know that High on Life 2 is coming on February 13. Otherwise, no other Game Pass games for 2026 have specific release dates. But even so, we do know of some Game Pass games that are at least planned to release next year.
New Xbox Game Pass Games Confirmed for 2026
- Menace - February 5
- High on Life 2 - February 13
- Aphelion
- At Fate's End
- Beast of Reincarnation
- Beastro
- Denshattack
- Fable (2026)
- Forza Horizon 6
- Freestyle Football 2
- Gears of War: E-Day
- Halo: Campaign Evolved
- Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (console)
- Persona 4 Revival
- Planet of Lana 2
- Replaced
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
- Subnautica 2
- Super Meat Boy 3D
- There Are No Ghosts at the Grand
- Tropico 7
- Wildekin
Besides the four big Xbox-published games and the two titles that have specific dates, there are already a bunch of other new day one Xbox Game Pass games to look forward to in 2026. At Fate's End, Denshattack, Persona 4 Revival, Replaced, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Subnautica 2, and Super Meat Boy 3D are the ones that catch my eye, personally. But remember, there are over 75 day one games coming to Game Pass in 2026, and only 22 have been announced so far. Clearly, there will be a lot of day one Xbox Game Pass games to look forward to next year, but whether they justify the price increase remains to be seen.