Imagine discovering a great game on Xbox Game Pass. Now imagine it leaving the service unexpectedly. This situation happens regularly. Many subscribers miss their chance to finish games. This guide will help you stay informed. Learn about all Xbox Game Pass games leaving. Find out why games leave and how to be prepared.

Why Do Games Leave Xbox Game Pass?

Games leave Xbox Game Pass mainly due to licensing agreements and time-limited deals. Third-party titles are added for a contracted period, after which they must be removed unless the deal is renewed. As one report notes, these removals show how the Game Pass library “constantly changes as licensing deals expire”. In other words, games aren’t pulled on a whim – they leave because the agreed time on the service is up.

First-party Microsoft games tend to stay. Microsoft’s own titles (like Halo, Forza, or Minecraft) are usually permanent in the Game Pass catalog. These games are published by Xbox Game Studios, so Microsoft keeps them available to subscribers indefinitely as part of the service’s core value. (The rare exceptions are often due to outside licensing issues – for example, older Forza games eventually left because of car and music licensing expirations.)

Third-party games rotate out regularly. Most non-Microsoft games remain on Game Pass for anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. Some smaller indie games might only stay for 6–12 months, while larger titles sometimes stick around longer. For instance, the indie card-battler Wildfrost launched into Game Pass in late 2024 and left about a year later in 2025. On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 11 was available for nearly four years before its removal. The exact duration varies by game and deal, but the key point is that every game (aside from Xbox’s own) will eventually leave Game Pass.

When and How Often Do Games Leave Game Pass?

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass is a scheduled, routine event. Removals happen twice each month in most cases. Typically, one batch of games leaves around the middle of the month, and another batch at the end of the month. Microsoft announces these departures in advance, so players get some warning (usually about two weeks) to finish up or purchase any titles on the way out.

For example, games tend to be removed around the 15th of the month and then again on the 30th/31st. In a given wave, roughly 3–10 games might leave, depending on expiring deals. Mid-month removals often align with Microsoft’s “Coming to Game Pass” news updates, and end-of-month removals coincide with the next rotation of titles. In one case, Microsoft confirmed that five games would leave at the end of November 2025. This pattern holds true most months – you can expect a handful of titles to drop off Game Pass roughly every two weeks.

The Xbox Game Pass app and website help you track this. There is a “Leaving Soon” section on the Game Pass page that flags which games are set to go in the near future. Titles appearing under “Leaving Soon” are usually about to be removed after those two weeks’ notice. Keeping an eye on that section (or on Game Pass news updates) will ensure you’re not caught off guard by a favorite game vanishing.

Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving in March: An Example

To see how the process works, look at games leaving Xbox Game Pass in March of a recent year. March 2025 was a notable month for Game Pass turnover. It saw two large waves of departures:

• Mid-March 2025: Seven games left on March 15. This included some big titles – for instance, the action RPG Lies of P and two entries of the Yakuza series (Yakuza 5 Remastered and Yakuza 6) were all announced to be leaving in that mid-month wave. Even a recent Day-One title (Evil West) was on the list, showing that even newer third-party games eventually cycle out. Subscribers had until that date to play these games before they were gone.
• End of March 2025: Another ten games were pulled on March 31, and these were heavy hitters. Microsoft confirmed the departure of popular series entries like Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami 1 & 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Monster Hunter Rise, among others, at the end of the month. This was a substantial content drop from the library. Notably, some of those titles (the Yakuza games) had been on Game Pass for a long time and had even left and rejoined once before. Their March removal gave fans a final chance (for now) to play them via Game Pass.

March’s example shows that Game Pass removals can sometimes include major, beloved games. It’s not only lesser-known indies that leave; even well-known franchises will rotate out if they’re not first-party. The good news is that such departures are balanced by new arrivals (in March 2025, more than a dozen new games were added that month to replace those that left). The constant cycle is by design – Game Pass stays fresh by adding new experiences while older ones bow out.

(And don’t worry if you missed March – this routine happens all year, not only in one month. Every month’s middle and end will have a similar “leaving” list, so it pays to stay alert year-round.)

How to Stay Informed About Leaving Games

It’s wise to stay on top of which games are leaving so you can plan your playtime. Here are some tips to keep informed:

• Follow Official Xbox News: Microsoft always announces the Game Pass additions and removals via official channels. The Xbox News Wire posts a “Coming to Game Pass” update usually twice a month, and at the bottom of each post they list “Leaving Soon” titles with the dates. For example, in a December update they clearly stated which games were “leaving the Game Pass library in December” with the exact dates Checking these posts (on Xbox Wire or the Xbox news site) will give you the authoritative list straight from Microsoft.
• Use the Xbox Game Pass App: The Game Pass mobile app and the Game Pass section on Xbox consoles have a “Leaving Soon” category. Games that are approaching their removal date will show up there automatically. This is perhaps the easiest way for subscribers to see what’s on the way out. If you open the Game Pass app and see a game under “Leaving Soon,” you’ll also usually see a note like “leaving in 7 days” or a specific date. It’s your cue to either start playing it now or be ready to say goodbye.
• Watch Gaming News Outlets: Many gaming news sites and communities report on Game Pass updates. Websites like TrueAchievements, PureXbox, GameSpot, and others often publish quick news whenever “games leaving Game Pass” are confirmed. These articles frequently cite the official announcements and highlight the biggest games to go. For instance, when Microsoft confirms a batch of departures, you might see headlines such as “Xbox Game Pass loses another five games this month, including [Game X]”. Subscribing to a few trusted news sources or following Game Pass-focused social media accounts can ensure you never miss an update.

By using the resources above, you can always know which games are leaving Xbox Game Pass and when. No subscriber likes surprises when a game disappears from their library, so a quick check twice a month can save you from disappointment.

What Happens When Games Leave? (Don’t Panic!)

When a game leaves Xbox Game Pass, you lose access to it through the subscription. The title will no longer launch unless you own it separately. However, there’s no need to panic – Microsoft gives players options to keep enjoying those games:

• You can buy the game at a discount before it leaves. While a game is in the “Leaving Soon” stage, Game Pass members can purchase it outright for up to 20% off the normal price. This is a valuable perk. If you’ve started a game and won’t finish in time, or you just love it enough to want permanent ownership, consider buying it while the discount applies. Subscribers are reminded to “use your 20% membership discount on your purchase to keep [the games] in your library”. In simple terms: you get a nice savings, and the game will remain yours to play after it’s gone from Game Pass.
• Your save data carries over. If you do purchase the game (or if you buy it later, or if it comes back to Game Pass in the future), all your progress and save files remain intact. Game Pass removal doesn’t delete your saves – those are tied to your Xbox account or local storage/cloud. So you can always continue where you left off, should you return to the title later by buying it or if it re-enters the library.
• Games may become available on other services. In some cases, a departing Game Pass title might be available via another subscription or platform. For example, if an EA-published game leaves Game Pass, it might still be playable through the EA Play library (which is included in Game Pass Ultimate) or it could show up on another platform’s subscription. It’s worth checking if the game is accessible elsewhere if you don’t want to purchase it. But generally, once it’s off Game Pass, the subscription will no longer grant you access on Xbox or PC.

Remember that even after a game leaves Game Pass, it’s usually still for sale in the Microsoft Store or available on disc. The Game Pass removal only means it’s not “free” with the subscription anymore. You always have the option to buy it later – though at that point you’d pay full price (so take advantage of the member discount while you can!).

Alternatives and New Additions Soften the Blow

It can be bittersweet to see favorites leave, but Game Pass constantly adds new games to fill the void. Microsoft ensures that as titles depart, new ones arrive to keep the library rich. In fact, often the lineup of incoming games includes alternatives or successors that ease the sting of losing a beloved title:

Sequels or New Releases

Sometimes a game leaving Game Pass is an older installment making room for a newer installment. For example, Mortal Kombat 11 was removed from Game Pass in December 2025, but at virtually the same time, the brand-new Mortal Kombat 1 joined the Game Pass library. Subscribers who might be sad to see MK11 go could immediately dive into the latest Mortal Kombat title as a fresh experience. In this way, the service upgrades your options without leaving a genre gap.

Similar Genres

When a notable game in a particular genre leaves, often there’s another game (or several) of that genre still available or coming soon. For instance, if a popular fighting game or racing game exits, chances are there’s another fighting or racing title on Game Pass (or arriving shortly) to scratch that itch. In late 2025, the realistic WW2 shooter Hell Let Loose was slated to leave the service. Fans of large-scale shooters didn’t have to feel stranded, because Game Pass Ultimate includes EA Play – which offers Battlefield titles – and Microsoft frequently adds other shooter games. The library had alternatives like Battlefield V and even the newly-added Call of Duty titles (after Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard) to ensure shooter fans still had options. In short, the departure of one game doesn’t leave the catalog barren; there are always other games in similar categories to discover.

Indie Replacements

The same goes for indie darlings. If a beloved indie game leaves Game Pass, keep an eye out for new indie games being added. The service often features day-one launches of indie titles. So, while you might wave goodbye to that quirky puzzle-platformer or card game, a new indie gem is probably arriving to take its spot.

From a broader perspective, Game Pass is designed as a rotating library. Microsoft wants you to always have something new to try. So while it’s natural to be disappointed when a favorite game rotates out, the constant flow of additions means there’s likely another favorite waiting just around the corner. Many subscribers use this as an opportunity to discover new games they might not have tried otherwise.

Fun Fact: games that leave aren’t always gone forever. We’ve seen titles return to Game Pass after some time if new deals are struck. The Yakuza series, for example, has left and rejoined the service in the past. Grand Theft Auto V has also left Game Pass and later come back more than once. So, if a game you love is gone, it’s possible it may reappear down the line. Just another reason to stay tuned to Game Pass news!)

Read More: When is GTA 6 Coming Out

Final Thoughts

Xbox Game Pass’s rotating catalog can feel like a double-edged sword: you get a constant stream of new games, but you also have to say goodbye to others regularly. The key is to stay informed and take advantage of the perks available. Check which games are leaving, play them while you can, and grab them at a discount if they’re keepers. Microsoft’s approach to games leaving Xbox Game Pass is all about keeping the service dynamic and fresh for players.

As a subscriber, this ultimately works in your favor – there’s always something new and exciting on the horizon. So enjoy the games that are here now, watch the announcements for what’s leaving and coming, and you’ll never be caught off guard. Game Pass is an ever-evolving journey, and being aware of the departures is just part of the adventure. 

Happy gaming, and may your next favorite game always be the one you’re about to discover!