Games Leaving Game Pass 2026: Full Schedule

Game Pass removals in 2026 have been steady, with April alone accounting for 14 confirmed departures across two separate waves. If you are trying to figure out what games are coming off Game Pass before they disappear, this schedule covers every confirmed removal date, platform availability, and which titles are worth prioritizing. The list reflects confirmed departures only, and it will update as Microsoft announces additional waves. For broader context on recent service shifts, Xbox has made several notable Game Pass policy changes worth keeping in mind as you plan your backlog.

What Counts as a Game Leaving Game Pass in 2026

Not every game that disappears from Game Pass qualifies as a confirmed scheduled removal. This article uses a specific set of criteria to keep the schedule accurate and useful.

• Included: Games with an official removal date confirmed by Microsoft or the Game Pass app’s Leaving Soon tab.
• Included: Titles announced in official Xbox Wire posts or the Game Pass app before their departure.
• Included: Platform-specific removals, meaning a game leaving PC Game Pass but staying on console will be noted with that distinction.
• Included: EA Play titles departing the service, though their exact dates are sometimes confirmed later than standard Game Pass titles.
• Not included: Unconfirmed speculation about games that might leave based on licensing patterns alone.
• Not included: Games removed without prior notice or explanation, unless confirmed after the fact.

Game Pass members also receive at least a 20% discount on any departing title before it is removed, so confirmed removal announcements double as a buying window. Recent Game Pass pricing changes have shifted how the service is structured, making it more important than ever to track what you might need to buy outright.

Games Leaving Game Pass in 2026: Full Removal Schedule

Below is the full confirmed schedule of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in 2026, organized by month and removal wave. Each entry includes platform availability and a short note on why it matters.

January 2026 Departures

Five games left Game Pass at the start of 2026, covering a range of genres from narrative adventure to action RPG.

• Road 96 – Narrative road-trip adventure that received strong critical praise for its procedural storytelling.
• Neon White – Fast-paced card-based action game built around speedrunning mechanics.
• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Action RPG that joined the service as a day-one release.
• The Ascent – Cyberpunk twin-stick shooter with solo and co-op support.
• Grinch Xmas Adventures – Holiday-themed title that followed a seasonal departure pattern.

March 2026 Departures

Six games left Game Pass in March 2026. Specific title names were not confirmed in the available sourced data at the time of publication.

April 15, 2026: Wave 1 Departures

The first wave of April removals brought five titles off the service, including one of the most high-profile exits of the year so far.

• Grand Theft Auto V (Both Editions) – Both the Enhanced and Legacy editions of GTA 5 left the service. GTA 5 had returned to Game Pass on April 15, 2025, making this a roughly one-year cycle. If you have not finished it, this is the biggest loss of the wave.
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – A JRPG that joined the service in February 2025 and requires a significant time investment to complete. Players who want to see it through should prioritize it immediately.
• Ashen – A Soulslike with a distinct art style that has been on the service for some time.
• My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery – A short title completable in just a few hours, making it a low-effort achievement hunting opportunity before removal.
• Terra Invicta – A deep strategy title available on PC only. Strategy fans who have not started it should note it will not be available on console.

April 30 / May 1, 2026: Wave 2 Departures

The second wave was the heavier of the two, with nine titles officially removed as of May 1, 2026. This wave includes several critically regarded games and a title that left just one week after joining.

• Citizen Sleeper (Console, PC, Cloud) – A critically acclaimed RPG with a strong narrative identity. One of the more significant losses from this wave for genre fans.
• Creatures of Ava (Console, PC, Cloud) – An action-adventure title centered on creature rescue mechanics.
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Console, PC, Cloud) – A long-running fighting game with extensive content for Dragon Ball fans.
• Hunt: Showdown 1896 (Console, PC, Cloud) – A competitive extraction shooter with a dedicated player base.
• Goat Simulator (Console, Cloud) – A long-time Game Pass staple that has been on the service for years.
• Goat Simulator: Remastered (Console, PC, Cloud) – The updated version of the sandbox physics title, departing alongside the original.
• Endless Legend 2 (PC only) – A 4X strategy game that left just one week after joining the service, which sources described as a potential oversight.
• Revenge of the Savage Planet (Console, PC, Cloud) – A colorful first-person exploration game with co-op support.
• NHL 24 (EA Play title; Console, PC, Cloud) – An EA Play title whose exact departure date had not been officially confirmed as of mid-April 2026.

April 2026 also brought new additions to offset these removals, including Hades 2 joining Game Pass alongside Final Fantasy IV, Tiny Bookshop, and Replaced.

Games Leaving Game Pass at a Glance

The table below summarizes the confirmed April 2026 departures for quick reference, including platform availability and a brief priority note.

Pro tip: Use the Game Pass app’s Leaving Soon tab to check exact dates before a removal window closes, especially for EA Play titles whose dates are confirmed separately.

Which Game Pass Departures Matter Most

With 14 games gone in April alone, not every departure deserves equal attention. Here is how to prioritize based on what type of player you are.

• Best RPG to finish before it’s gone: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is the clear answer. It joined the service in February 2025, and its length means anyone who started but did not finish should treat it as urgent. It is not a game you can wrap up in a weekend.
• Best critically acclaimed short game: Citizen Sleeper is one of the most praised narrative RPGs of its generation. Its departure from Console, PC, and Cloud simultaneously makes this a true removal rather than a platform shift.
• Best for a quick session before removal: My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery is completable in a few hours, making it a practical pick for achievement hunters looking to add completions without a time commitment.
• Biggest co-op loss: Revenge of the Savage Planet supports co-op and is worth a session with a friend before it leaves Console, PC, and Cloud.
• Most surprising exit: Endless Legend 2 left Game Pass just one week after joining, which sources described as a potential oversight. PC strategy fans who missed it in that window will need to purchase it separately.
• Highest-profile departure: Grand Theft Auto V in both its Enhanced and Legacy editions. GTA 5 leaving game pass was predictable given its roughly one-year cycle, but it remains the name most subscribers will notice missing.

Key takeaway: Prioritize Citizen Sleeper and Eiyuden Chronicle if you have limited time; both are long-form experiences that are harder to justify purchasing at full price once the discount window closes.

How Often Does Game Pass Remove Games?

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass follow a recurring pattern that subscribers can plan around, even if exact titles are not always predictable far in advance.

• Twice-monthly cadence: Microsoft typically announces removals in two waves per month, often mid-month and end-of-month, though timing can shift.
• Two weeks’ notice is standard: The Leaving Soon section of the Game Pass app usually flags titles roughly two weeks before they are removed, giving subscribers time to finish or buy at a discount.
• 20% discount window: All confirmed departing titles receive at least a 20% discount for Game Pass members leading up to removal, making it worthwhile to act before the deadline.
• Licensing drives most exits: The majority of removals happen because third-party licensing agreements expire. First-party titles from Xbox Game Studios are less likely to leave, though not immune.
• EA Play titles follow separate timelines: Games in the EA Play catalog can leave on schedules independent of standard Game Pass waves, and their dates are sometimes confirmed later.

April 2026 showed that removal waves can be heavier than average. The combination of five departures on April 15 and nine more effective May 1 brought the monthly total to 14, which is a notable figure compared to a typical month. For a broader look at how the service has evolved, this analysis of Game Pass challenges offers useful context.

How to Check What Is Leaving Game Pass Next

Beyond this article, there are reliable ways to stay current on xbox game pass games leaving soon before the window closes.

1. Game Pass app, Leaving Soon tab: The most authoritative source. Microsoft updates this tab when removal dates are confirmed, typically around two weeks before a title disappears.
2. Xbox Wire: Microsoft’s official blog publishes monthly Game Pass updates that list both incoming and outgoing titles. Bookmark it or follow Xbox on social channels for notifications.
3. Microsoft Store listings: Individual game pages in the Microsoft Store sometimes display a “Leaving Game Pass” label before the official blog post goes live.
4. Xbox official social channels: The official Xbox accounts on major platforms announce removal waves around the same time as Xbox Wire posts, often with a direct link to the full list.
5. Gaming news sites: Outlets covering Xbox typically compile removal lists within hours of a Microsoft announcement, which can be useful for getting genre context or recommendations alongside the raw list.

Pro tip: If a game you want to keep playing is confirmed to leave, download it to your console or PC before the removal date. You will need an active Game Pass subscription to play it, but having it installed means you will not need to redownload if the title ever returns to the catalog.

The Bottom Line on Games Leaving Game Pass in 2026

April 2026 was one of the heavier removal months on record, with 14 confirmed departures spanning major open-world titles, critically acclaimed RPGs, and long-standing catalog staples. Games removed from Game Pass this month range from quick completions like My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery to time-intensive commitments like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, so the right move depends on your backlog. The schedule above will be updated as Microsoft confirms additional waves for the months ahead. Check back as new removal dates are announced, and keep an eye on Xbox’s evolving service strategy for any shifts that might affect future catalog decisions.