Xbox Game Pass Sees Significant Title Removals in July, Including Critically Acclaimed Games
July marks a period of notable transition for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as the service is set to remove a significant number of titles. Following an initial culling of ten games mid-month, a subsequent announcement confirms the departure of several highly-regarded games by the end of July. This includes the celebrated indie platformer Celeste and the complex strategy role-playing game Crusader Kings 3, both of which have been mainstays on the platform for an extended duration. This move is part of a larger trend observed within Xbox's operational adjustments.
The updated 'Leaving Soon' section on the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform revealed these impending changes, as first reported by Pure Xbox. By July 31st, subscribers will lose access to a diverse selection of games across console, PC, and cloud platforms. Among them are titles such as Back to the Dawn, Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, My Friendly Neighborhood, Rain World, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Whiskerwood.
The departure of Celeste is particularly significant. This indie platformer has garnered widespread acclaim for its meticulously designed gameplay, demanding precise player input, and its deeply moving narrative. Originally available on Game Pass from 2020 to 2021, it made a welcome return in 2023, only to be removed again now. Similarly, Crusader Kings 3, a critically praised RPG, has been a fixture on Game Pass since September 2020. Other noteworthy titles exiting the service include the survival platformer Rain World and the strategy RPG Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord.
This second wave of removals follows an earlier purge on July 15th, which saw the exit of other prominent games such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Stellaris, Powerwash Simulator, and the charming Zelda-inspired game Dungeons of Hinterburg. Collectively, eighteen games will be leaving the service this month, representing an increase from the thirteen titles removed in June.
While the periodic rotation of titles on Game Pass is customary, these changes coincide with a particularly challenging period for Xbox. The company recently implemented extensive layoffs and studio closures on July 6th, alongside a public statement from CEO Asha Sharma outlining a new strategic direction. Although Game Pass was not explicitly mentioned in the restructuring announcement, there are indications that the strategy of launching first-party titles directly onto the service on day one is being re-evaluated. Reports suggest that Game Pass experienced a decline in subscriber numbers over the past year, partly attributed to a price increase in October 2025. In response, the price of Game Pass Ultimate was slightly reduced, and a more streamlined, cost-effective version of the service was introduced. Furthermore, Xbox has faced ongoing boycott campaigns from the BDS movement since July 2025, adding another layer of complexity to its current operational landscape.
This wave of departures from Xbox Game Pass in July, impacting several beloved titles, underscores a shifting landscape for the popular subscription service. These changes, coupled with recent internal restructuring and external pressures, signal a period of re-evaluation and adjustment for Xbox's gaming strategy.
