Microsoft has officially revealed the initial selection of titles joining Xbox Game Pass during the first half of September 2026. The September update brings a diverse range of genres, including blockbusters, multiplayer platformers, deck-builders, and co-op survival experiences across console, PC, and cloud platforms.

Subscribers across multiple tiers will gain access to eight games scheduled to drop between September 1 and September 15. Highlights include high-profile additions from Activision Blizzard alongside day-one indie launches and full version 1.0 rollouts.

Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 1 Lineup Details

The early September offerings kicked off on September 1 with the release of Shelldiver, an incremental simulation game where players control a sea turtle harvesting jellyfish to build a bustling retail business. Following close behind, the day-one competitive platformer SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed arrives on September 3, introducing eight-player multiplayer racing with grapple mechanics and dynamic environmental traps.

Strategic deck-building fans will receive two new additions during the first two weeks. Dice a Million joins on September 4, granting players the chance to manipulate massive dice-rolling combos using enchanted rings and rogue-like modifiers. Later, on September 10, medieval strategy title The Royal Writ introduces permanent card unit deaths as armies battle across tactical kingdom maps.

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War and Major Additions

Headlining the mid-month updates is Activision's shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, arriving on September 8. Originally released in 2020, the game offers a single-player story campaign set across historical Cold War hotspots alongside robust multiplayer modes. Its addition represents another step in Microsoft's ongoing integration of major franchise titles into the service following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Fighting game enthusiasts will see SEGA's remastered brawler Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage land on September 10. The wave concludes on September 15 with two notable releases: the full 1.0 launch of co-op survival game RuneScape: Dragonwilds and the popular retail management title TCG Card Shop Simulator. Additionally, PC and Ultimate subscribers can jump into the newly launched Total War PC title ecosystem or access trials like EA Sports NHL 27.

Complete List of Games Joining Game Pass Tiers

Microsoft has detailed the exact platform availability and release schedule for all wave 1 additions:

  • Shelldiver (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 1 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC) – September 3 (Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass)
  • Dice a Million (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld, and PC) – September 4 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 8 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • The Royal Writ (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld, and PC) – September 10 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC) – September 10 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC) – September 15 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)
  • TCG Card Shop Simulator 1.0 (Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld, and PC) – September 15 (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass)

The release strategy continues Microsoft's push to support various hardware form factors, making several titles available on portable gaming handhelds alongside standard Xbox hardware. Players interested in physical media conversions can also explore the recently launched Xbox disc-to-digital program for expanding cross-platform libraries.

Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass in Mid-September

As new titles arrive, several high-profile games are scheduled to leave Xbox Game Pass on September 15. Microsoft confirms that subscribers can use their member discount to purchase these titles at up to 20 percent off before they depart the service library.

Major departures on September 15 include:

  • Commandos: Origins (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Cricket 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (Cloud and Console)
  • Dead Cells (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Frostpunk 2 (PC)
  • Mullet Madjack (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Spiritfarer (Cloud, Console, and PC)

PC gamers planning hardware upgrades to run upcoming game releases, including titles previewed during recent showcases like the highly anticipated Fable PC system requirements, should monitor their system software carefully. Those troubleshooting PC performance or stability issues can check guides on fixing driver game crashes for optimal framerates.

With a steady stream of incoming titles and notable departures, the Xbox Game Pass September 2026 lineup offers a balanced mix of genres for console, PC, and cloud players throughout the first half of the month.