Microsoft reveals and releases its new Xbox Game Pass additions in batches. The first half of October saw plenty of new Xbox Game Pass games added to the service as well as a handful of titles removed, but now the spotlight is on the second half of the month. Microsoft has pulled the curtain back on every new Xbox Game Pass game that's being added to the service at the end of October, as well as all the games getting the boot once the month is up.
The new Xbox Game Pass additions include some day one titles, whereas the games leaving at the end of October include some of the service's most highly-rated games. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can take a look at what's ahead for end of October 2021 and plan their Game Pass playing accordingly.
Here is what Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to for the rest of October.
Xbox Game Pass New Games October 2021 List
- Dragon Ball FightgerZ (Cloud/Console)
- Echo Generation (Cloud/Console/PC)
- Everspace 2 (PC)
- Moonglow Bay (Cloud/Console/PC) - October 26
- Age of Empires 4 (PC) - October 28
- Alan Wake's American Nightmare (Console/PC) - October 28
- Backbone (Console) - October 28
- Bassmaster Fishing 2022 (Cloud/Console/PC) - October 28
- Nongunz: Doppelganger Edition (Cloud/Console/PC) - October 28
- The Forgotten City (Cloud/Console/PC) - October 28
Xbox Game Pass has had quite the October already, with plenty of new Xbox Game Pass games for October 2021 available on the service. Just recently, Xbox Game Pass added popular fighting game Dragon Ball FighterZ, indie RPG Echo Generation, and the Game Preview game Everspace 2 for Game Pass on PC users. However, there are plenty more new Xbox Game Pass games in the pipeline for October 2021.
On October 26, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to the addition of Moonglow Bay, an indie game that combines ghosts and fishing to create a rather unique premise. Then on October 28, Game Pass on PC users will get another freebie as the highly-anticipated Age of Empires 4 will finally see release. The real-time strategy game has been a long time coming, and so here's hoping it lives up to the hype.
On October 28, Xbox Game Pass subscribers across PC, console, and the cloud can look forward to The Forgotten City. Originating as a Skyrim mod, The Forgotten City is a time loop mystery that has become a full-fledged game in its own right. Reviews for The Forgotten City were mostly positive, and while it's not a day one Xbox Game Pass game, it's only a few months old and so is still a rather exciting addition to the service.
Looking beyond October 2021, there's a lot more for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to look forward to just over the horizon. November 9 will see the addition of Forza Horizon 5, the latest installment in the critically-acclaimed open world raching franchise. And then a couple of days later on November 11, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can try the definitive edition of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for free in addition to The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim - Anniversary Edition.
Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving October 2021 List
- Carto (Console/PC)
- Celeste (Console/PC)
- Comache (PC)
- Eastshade (Console/PC)
- Five Nights at Freddy's (Console/PC)
- Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (Console/PC)
- Five Nights at Freddy's 3 (Console/PC)
- Five Nights at Freddy's 4 (Console/PC)
- Knights and Bikes (Console/PC)
- Unruly Heroes (Console/PC)
Xbox Game Pass adds more games than it removes, but it still removes games nevertheless. On October 31, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will see 10 games leave the subscription service, including quite a few games that earned high marks from critics. Out of all the games leaving Xbox Game Pass on October 31, though, arguably the most notable is the indie hit Celeste, which earned widespread acclaim and won numerous awards at the time of its original release.
Celeste, for the uninitiated, is a challening 2D platformer where players have to climb a perilous mountain. The game's high level of difficulty never becomes frustrating due to its forgiving checkpoint system, and its musical score is held in high regard as well. It's one of the most highly-rated indie games in recent years and definitely worth a look for fans of the 2D platforming genre. Xbox Game Pass subscribers may want to prioritize it, assuming they didn't claim it as a free game when it was part of the Xbox free Games with Gold lineup back in the day.
The four Five Nights at Freddy's games being removed from Xbox Game Pass are also titles that subscribers should consider checking out while they're still available. Mileage may very when it comes to whether or not one enjoys Five Nights at Freddy's style of gameplay, but there's no denying that the spooky games are perfect for the Halloween season. Any Xbox Game Pass subscribers curious about Five Nights at Freddy's have the chance to check them out without paying more than their Xbox Game Pass subscription cost, so they may want to make time to do so while they still can.