Xbox Game Pass will add ten new games in August 2026, spread out over the period from August 6 to August 18. The most notable titles include the sports simulation *Cricket 26*, the quirky dating sim *Date Everything!*, and the surprise roguelite hit *Ball x Pit*. There’s also a bonus that isn’t actually a subscription game: Anyone with an Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription can play the open beta of Gears of War: E-Day a week before everyone else.
The distribution is noteworthy. Seven of the ten titles aren’t new additions to the subscription; instead, they’re moving from Ultimate to the more affordable Premium tier. Only Date Everything!, Cricket 26, and Sandustry are true new additions.
The most important points at a glance
- 10 new games between August 6 and 18, 2026
- Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta: Early access starting August 6 for Ultimate and PC Game Pass, starting August 13 for everyone
- Seven additionaltitles are moving to the Premium tier
- Four games will leave Game Pass on August 15
Xbox Game Pass in August 2026: An overview of all new games
| Game | Available starting | Game Pass Plan | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monsters Are Coming! | August 6 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
| PowerWash Simulator 2 | August 6 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Bounty Star | August 11 | New to Premium (still available in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Date Everything! | August 11 | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
| Grounded 2 (Game Preview) | August 11 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
| Ball x Pit | August 12 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
| Cricket 26 | August 13 | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Mio: Memories in Orbit | August 13 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
| Sandustry (Game Preview) | August 13 | Ultimate, PC Game Pass | PC |
| Egging On | August 18 | New to Premium (remains in Ultimate & PC Game Pass) | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC |
Heretic + Hexen and Game Freak’s action RPG Beast of Reincarnation were added on August 4. Microsoft included both titles in the second wave of Xbox Game Pass for July, which is why they are missing from the table above.
Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta – Five-Day Early Access for Ultimate and PC Game Pass
The real highlight of this wave isn’t a subscription title, but a beta. Gears of War: E-Day is set to release on October 6, 2026, but you can test out the multiplayer as early as August. It will take place in two phases:
- Early Access: August 6, 9:00 PM through August 10, 7:00 PM (CEST) – for pre-order customers and members of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
- Open Beta for Everyone: August 13 at 9:00 PM through August 17 at 7:00 PM (CEST) – no pre-order required, no subscription required
The game will be playable on Xbox Series X|S, via Steam, and via the Xbox app on PC. Included are the revamped 4v4 Versus mode and Horde Siege, the new variation of the classic PvE mode. Cross-play works across platforms, but for squad invitations between Steam and Xbox, your Xbox account must be linked to Steam.
Two minor details that often get overlooked: On console, you’ll need at least Game Pass Essential for online access, while on Steam, a Steam account is sufficient. And progress won’t be fully carried over—while challenge rewards and titles will carry over to the release, player levels and class progress will reset to zero on October 6.
For those who’d rather grab the controller themselves instead of streaming from home: The shooter will also be playable at the Xbox booth at Gamescom 2026.
The Highlights: Ball x Pit, Date Everything!, and Cricket 26
Ball x Pit is the title that’s been the most talked-about in recent months. The game combines Breakout with roguelite mechanics and base-building—it sounds like nonsense on paper but, in practice, it’ll eat up a surprising number of evenings. Starting August 12, you won’t have to pay for an Ultimate subscription to play it.
Date Everything! takes its title literally: you go on dates with your household items. Using special glasses, over 100 household items transform into characters with their own personalities and voice lines—from the refrigerator to the vacuum cleaner. The game will be available on August 11 across all three relevant subscription tiers.
Cricket 26 is likely to have the smallest audience in Germany, but for fans of the sport, it’s currently the most comprehensive simulation available. Also worth checking out: Mio: Memories in Orbit, a hand-drawn Metroidvania, and Grounded 2, which continues to be expanded as a Game Preview.
Premium Gets an Upgrade—Here’s How the Subscription System Works
Since the subscription restructuring in the fall of 2025, there have been three tiers. Game Pass Ultimate, for about 21 euros per month, gets day-one titles upon release, while Premium, for about 13 euros, does not. Instead, the games trickle down to lower tiers over time. That’s exactly what’s happening in August with seven titles. Essential, at around 9 euros, remains the entry-level tier with the smallest catalog.
For Premium subscribers, August is thus unusually strong, while for Ultimate members it’s rather sparse: Aside from the E-Day beta and *Sandustry*, there’s little in the first half of the month that isn’t already in the catalog. Given the recent price increase for the Xbox Series X|S, some may be wondering which tier is still worth it.
These games are leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 15
Four titles will be removed from the subscription mid-month. If you want to catch up on any of them, you have until August 15:
| Game | Leaving Game Pass | Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Aliens: Fireteam Elite | August 15 | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Atlas Fallen | August 15 | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Firewatch | August 15 | Cloud, Console, PC |
| Menace (Game Preview) | August 15 | PC |
The departure of Firewatch is particularly unfortunate. This narrative game from Campo Santo can be played through in one long evening and is one of those classics you should experience at least once. As usual, the member discount of up to 20 percent applies until the deadline if you want to permanently add a title to your library and keep your save data.
Conclusion
The first wave of Xbox Game Pass in August 2026 is clearly aimed at Premium subscribers. Seven titles that were previously reserved for Ultimate members now come at no extra cost— Ball x Pit, PowerWash Simulator 2, and Grounded 2 are a great haul for around 13 euros a month. Ultimate members, on the other hand, have one reason in particular to celebrate, and that’s Gears of War: E-Day. A five-day head start on the open beta is worth more to fans of the series than half the list. Microsoft typically announces the second August wave around the 18th.
Sources: Xbox Wire,
