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2d ago

Xbox Confirms Wave 2 Game Pass Additions and End‑of‑Month Removals

Late‑June and early‑July Game Pass changes lay out arrivals and removals, signalling a shift in how Xbox adds major franchises to the service.

Image: EA Canada, EA Romania/Electronic Arts
call of duty
Image
A soldier in a brown jacket and beanie aims a rifle amidst battle. Explosions and a plane are in the background, conveying intense action and urgency.

Overview

  • Microsoft published Wave 2 on June 16–17, listing seven incoming titles with launch dates from June 16 to July 6 including Junkster (June 16), Call of Duty: Vanguard (June 17), and EA Sports FC 26 (June 18).
  • Eight games are scheduled to leave Game Pass on June 30, including Rise of the Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider Definitive Edition, Slay the Spire, Payday 2, and Unpacking, with at least 20% discounts offered in the Microsoft Store until removal.
  • Xbox reiterated a policy change that new Call of Duty releases will not appear day‑one on Game Pass and are expected to join the service roughly a year after retail launch, shifting the franchise toward delayed catalog additions.
  • Availability varies by subscription tier and platform: Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass have different access levels, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 moves to Premium on July 2 after already being on Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
  • These content moves follow April price cuts that Xbox says improved acquisition and retention and arrive while multiple outlets report potential layoffs and possible studio closures inside Xbox, a backdrop that may affect future Game Pass curation and studio support.