Xbox is expanding Game Pass with ten more titles in the first half of July, including Gears of War: Reloaded, The Planet Crafter, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. The update is not entirely good news, however, because ten games are also leaving the service on July 15. The departing list includes titles such as PowerWash Simulator, Stellaris, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition.

Despite the major restructuring affecting Xbox and the company’s recent layoffs, Game Pass is continuing its regular update schedule. Microsoft is adding ten games to the subscription service during the first half of July, with the line-up mixing brand-new arrivals, titles expanding into additional subscription tiers, and games that will now become available to Game Pass Premium members. The biggest names include the remastered Gears of War: Reloaded, the solo and online co-op terraforming survival game The Planet Crafter, and the modern collection of skateboarding classics, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.

Gears of War: Reloaded and Quarantine Zone: The Last Check deserve special attention because they were previously available only to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members, but are now also joining the Premium tier. The July selection also covers several smaller genres, including the time-bending roguelike Ascend to Zero, the sci-fi deckbuilder Fogpiercer, the co-op extraction platformer FixForce, and the open-world biking experience Mavrix by Matt Jones. Microsoft separately marks games optimized for handheld play, making it easier to see which titles are designed with portable devices in mind.

These 10 Games Are Coming to Game Pass in the First Half of July

Game Pass Premium members can expect eight additions, while Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers are receiving another two games during the next two weeks. The release dates run from July 9 to July 21, so the line-up is arriving gradually rather than dropping into the library all at once. Most titles will be available through cloud gaming, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with several also supporting handheld devices, while Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 will be playable through cloud, console, and PC.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a refreshed version of the original Gears of War that includes all post-launch content, including the bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, characters, and cosmetic items. The Planet Crafter, by contrast, is a slower survival game built around construction and planetary transformation, asking players to gradually make an inhospitable world suitable for human life. Arriving later in the month, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is the remastered collection of the two legendary skateboarding games, bringing back the original levels, professional skaters, and tricks with modern visuals.

Ten Games Are Leaving the Library on July 15

Every Game Pass update also comes with a list of titles that will soon leave the service. This time, ten games are departing the library on July 15, including several popular titles that offer much longer experiences. Anyone who has not finished Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Stellaris, or Dungeons of Hinterberg has only a few days left to do so through the subscription.

Microsoft typically offers discounts on departing Game Pass games, allowing subscribers to keep titles they want to continue playing at a reduced price. July’s update therefore brings a substantial selection to Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass members, while also removing several games whose departure may sting for regular users. Players looking for something shorter and faster may find Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 or Tamashika a good fit later this month, but it is worth starting any departing game now if buying it separately is not part of the plan.

Source: 3DJuegos, Xbox Wire