Highlights

  • Grand Theft Auto 5 is leaving Xbox Game Pass on Friday, January 5.
  • The game was added to Game Pass without any prior announcement and doesn't follow the usual removal schedule for other games.
  • In addition to GTA 5, four other games will be leaving Game Pass on January 15, but subscribers can look forward to new games being added in January as well.

As recently confirmed by Microsoft, Grand Theft Auto 5 will be leaving the Xbox Game Pass lineup on Friday, January 5. Grand Theft Auto 5 was added to Xbox Game Pass on July 5, 2023, so by the time it's removed, it will have been available for subscribers to play for six months.

Grand Theft Auto 5 has been on Xbox Game Pass multiple times, and it has always been treated differently than other Game Pass games. The most recent time Grand Theft Auto 5 was added to Xbox Game Pass, it did so as a big surprise with no announcement confirming its arrival like is done with other Game Pass games. Not only that, but all Rockstar titles that are added to Game Pass tend to leave on days other than the 15th and last days of the month, which is when other Game Pass games are removed.

Xbox Game Pass Early 2024
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Xbox Game Pass Games to Look Forward to in Early 2024

With 2023 coming to an end, it's time to look towards the future of Xbox Game Pass, and early 2024 already has a few games fans should be excited for.

Subscribers have known for a while that Grand Theft Auto 5 would be leaving Xbox Game Pass, as the game was added to the app's Leaving Soon section last month. Many had assumed that meant Grand Theft Auto 5 would be getting the boot on December 31, but that day came and went with GTA 5 still available for the service. It was then believed that Grand Theft Auto 5 would be a part of the January 15 Game Pass departures, but now it's been confirmed that it will actually be leaving the service 10 days earlier. January 5 is the last day Xbox Game Pass subscribers have to play Grand Theft Auto 5, so they should get their fill while they still can - unless they decide to buy it for keeps, of course.

When is Grand Theft Auto 5 Leaving Xbox Game Pass?

Motorbike
  • Grand Theft Auto 5's last day on Xbox Game Pass is Friday, January 5, 2024

Grand Theft Auto 5 isn't the only game leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2024. Four additional games are leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15, with Garden Story, MotoGP 22, Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden all being removed. Game Pass subscribers will want to prioritize Garden Story, MotoGP 22, and Persona 4 Golden because Persona 3 is actually getting a replacement in the near future. Persona 3 Reload is coming to Xbox Game Pass on February 2 as a day one game, providing a brand-new way to experience the classic game and making Persona 3 Portable's removal from Game Pass sting a little less.

Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving in January 2024 List

  • Grand Theft Auto 5 - January 5
  • Garden Story - January 15
  • MotoGP 22 - January 15
  • Persona 3 Portable - January 15
  • Persona 4 Golden - January 15

It's not all doom and gloom for Xbox Game Pass, though. Xbox Game Pass has also confirmed new games coming in January 2024, with Hell Let Loose coming on January 4, Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Figment being added on January 9, Super Mega Baseball 4 coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on January 11, We Happy Few rejoining the lineup on January 11, and horror games Resident Evil 2 and Those Who Remain coming on January 16. And while they weren't part of the latest Xbox Game Pass announcement, it was previously confirmed that Turnip Boy Robs a Bank and Go Mecha Ball are coming to Xbox Game Pass on January 18 and January 25, respectively.