Die XboxPresentation at the Game Awards 2025 was disappointing for many. Instead of big reveals or exclusive premieres Microsoft just a two-minute montage of games already available in the Xbox Game Pass – without concrete prospects for new content. The group thus missed an important opportunity to send a strong signal at the end of the year.
Although titles like Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 or Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 appeared in the montage shown, there were no clear announcements about future publications in the subscription service. The selection of games shown came predominantly from third-party developers and largely left out Microsoft’s own brands.
Reactions to the Game Awards presentation
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Why was the Xbox presentation so disappointing? Many were expecting big news about Xbox Game Pass, but the short clip with musical accompaniment by Johnny Cashs (Ghost) Riders in the Sky remained superficial. Although there were references to games like The Outer Worlds 2, Minecraft and Fallout 76but specific new Game Pass additions were not mentioned.
The clip showed a caretaker on his nightly tour through game worlds, which was creatively staged but didn’t offer any new content. For many, this seemed like a look back instead of an outlook – a symbol of the current uncertainty surrounding Game Pass.
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Price increases cause dissatisfaction
How does the price increase affect perception? Since October 2025, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has cost 29.99 euros per month – an increase of around 50 percent. Although this change brought almost 50 new games to the platform, many through the partnership with Ubisoft+, the community reacted predominantly negatively.
Complaints about the new price-performance ratio piled up on social media and forums. Many people find the increase to be inappropriate, especially in economically difficult times. Initial analyzes also show an increase in subscription cancellations.
Games announcements for 2026
Which new titles will be coming to Game Pass in 2026? Despite the lackluster presence at the Game Awards, Xbox Game Pass isn’t standing still. Around 40 new games have already been confirmed for 2026, many of them with day 1 availability via subscription. Particularly interesting for January subscribers: MIO: Memories in Orbit (from January 20th) and New Rome (from January 22nd, PC only).
Big franchises are also returning. Title like Fable, Forza Horizon 6 or Gears of War: E-Day are scheduled for 2026. Microsoft relies on a mix of well-known brands and new indie gems.
The full list of announced games for 2026
Which games have been announced so far for 2026? Here is the known overview of all titles that will be added to Xbox Game Pass in 2026:
- Aphelion
- armed
- At Fate’s End
- Awaysis
- Beast of Reincarnation
- Beastro
- Clockwork Revolution
- Crowsworn
- Darkwood 2
- Denshattack!
- Echo Generation 2
- Erosion
- Fable
- Forza Horizon 6
- Freestyle Football 2
- Gears of War: E-Day
- High on Life 2
- Menace
- MIO: Memories in Orbit
- Mixtape
- Nirvana Noir
- Nova Roma (PC only)
- Outbound
- Persona 4 Revival
- Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
- Raji: Kaliyuga
- Replaced
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
- Roadside Research
- Sledding Game
- Sleight of Hand
- Snap & Grab
- Subnautica 2
- Super Meat Boy 3D
- TCG Card Shop Simulator
- There Are Not Ghosts At The Grand
- Tropic 7
- Vampire Crawlers
- Vapor World
- Wildkin
- Witchbrook
An uncertain start to the new year
What does this mean for the future of Xbox Game Pass? Microsoft’s weak showing at the Game Awards 2025 and increasing reliance on third-party providers are causing uncertainty. Although Game Pass remains relevant with over 37 million users, the community’s trust seems to be weakened.
The next few months will show whether Microsoft draws the right conclusions and can generate more enthusiasm again in 2026. The list of planned titles is long – now it’s all about implementation.
How do you see the current situation with Xbox Game Pass? Did Microsoft’s presentation at the Game Awards disappoint you? Let us know in the comments!
