September is off to a rough start for Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft announced on Tuesday, Sept. 1, that it’s removing Cyberpunk 2077, as well as other awesome games, from the service on Sept. 15. Microsoft also announced that Game Pass was getting a few games, like Call of Duty: Cold War, but an uninspiring CoD and a few roguelike deck builders don’t make up for the games the company is removing.
Microsoft pulling awesome games, like Cyberpunk 2077, definitely hurts the quality of the library. Years after its initial, rocky release, Cyberpunk in particular has evolved into a rich, complex game full of impressive environments, wild storylines and unforgettable allies. The level of customization also ensures that nearly every playstyle is accessible and fun. The Phantom Liberty expansion seals this as one of my favorite games of all time. I mean, Idris Elba’s performance alone made the expansion worth checking out.
Don’t take just my word for it. Former CNET Editor Daniel Van Boom wrote in 2020 that the game tells “a surprisingly focused and compelling story, and is set in a giant city that you’re constantly rewarded for exploring.” Tom Marks wrote for CNET’s sister site IGN in 2024 that Cyberpunk “kicks you into its beautiful and dazzlingly dense cityscape with few restrictions.”
Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t the only game getting yanked from the service on Sept. 15. Here are all the other games Microsoft is pulling soon, so you better hurry if you want to finish your campaigns.
“Yikes, that’s a lot of quality games leaving,” one Reddit user wrote. I couldn’t agree more. Even if you already played Cyberpunk, Dead Cells and Frostpunk 2 are great, while Mullet Madjack and Superliminal are chaotic good times. It makes me sad to see all these games get pulled from Xbox Game Pass.
Although Microsoft is adding a handful of games to the service in the coming weeks, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, arguably the biggest title coming to the service, is boring compared to games being removed — let alone other CoD games. The end result is a lopsided equation where the quality of the games leaving the service is greater than the games being added to the service.
Still, maybe you’ll enjoy one of the new titles as much as I enjoyed any of the games getting pulled from Game Pass in September. Here are the games Microsoft is adding to the service and when you can play them.
The high-octane racing game Speedrunners 2: King of Speed comes to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Sept. 3.
Roguelike deck builder Dice a Million lands on Game Pass Premium on Sept. 4, joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Fight in East Berlin, Vietnam, Turkey, the Soviet Union and other locations in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Premium on Sept. 8.
Medieval roguelike deck builder The Royal Writ comes to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Premium on Sept. 10.
The fighting series Virtua Fighter continues to evolve with Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage. That game comes to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Premium on Sept. 10.
Gather supplies, build items and survive in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. That game arrives on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Premium on Sept. 15.
Even if you’re not looking forward to these games, there’s hope on the horizon. Gears of War: E-Day is coming to Game Pass on Oct. 6, and that game will be here in all its chunky, gory bits before you know it.
For more on Xbox, here’s our Xbox Game Pass review and discover which Game Pass plan is right for you.
Zachary McAuliffe
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