The First Game Pass Titles of 2026 Show Xbox Is Still Fighting.
Across the gaming landscape, enthusiasts continue to ring the funeral bells for the green team. Microsoft's console just got outsold by a platform few have heard of. Platform-specific outlets have started writing on PS5 topics as a new development. Last year proved to be a period of total upheaval for the Xbox ecosystem. But if we're going solely off what's coming to Game Pass in 2026, it is apparent that Microsoft continues to plan to draw people in with quality releases on its key platform.
The Immediate Additions
The two games you can play right now today, Brews & Bastards and Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition, are not the headliners. Rather, it's what is coming to Game Pass soon that's deserving of attention.
Upcoming Headline Games
On Jan. 13, Game Pass will add the underappreciated Star Wars Outlaws, a vast exploration title that deviates from conventional open-world tropes with a space-faring criminal escapade. An additional significant inclusion is Resident Evil Village with its iconic tall vampire, which our 2021 review called "an ideal blend of terror and combat."
Compelling Indie Titles
However, the more modest titles coming to Game Pass soon are quite compelling. Lost In Random: The Eternal Die, the criminally overlooked roguelike offering thrilling gameplay, arrives January 7th — and it's worth experiencing even if you missed out on the first Lost in Random game.
The game set in a ruined Britain from last year could captivate you remarkably quickly.
Atomfall, a survival title with stealth elements by the makers of Sniper Elite, also warrants your attention. Ultimate tier members also have Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition to anticipate.
A Solid, Curated Lineup
All in all, this isn't a revolutionary update to Game Pass, nor are they tentpole Microsoft studios games that validate the subscription alone. But Microsoft's additions here are very dependable. The lineup provides a solid mix of older titles you may have skipped and new-ish games that failed to receive the spotlight they deserved the first time around — which makes them perfect candidates to experience a revival on Game Pass.
Be prepared to say goodbye to The Grinch Christmas Adventures, however.
