Even after raising its price by 50% last year, Game Pass is still offering a great selection of games. Xbox explained the price increase allows them to release more new games on the service right away, especially for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, and to make cloud gaming available to more people.
While growing Xbox Cloud Gaming will involve showing ads later this year, right now, Game Pass subscribers have a lot to be excited about with the latest announcements from Xbox Wire throughout January 2026.
The latter half of the month looks promising, especially with the arrival of Death Stranding Director’s Cut on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21, 2026. Though it might not appeal to all players, fans of Hideo Kojima can anticipate his signature style – a game focused on thoughtful exploration, beautiful graphics, and a world that values both careful planning and making progress.
Here’s a full rundown of everything coming to Xbox Game Pass and when:
| Game | Genre | Available on (Game Pass versions) |
|---|---|---|
| Death Stranding Director’s Cut (January 21) | Action / Adventure | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| RoadCraft (January 21) | Simulation / Construction | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (January 21) | Action / Platformer | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| The Talos Principle 2 (January 27) | Puzzle / First-person | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Anno: Mutationem (January 28) | Action RPG / Cyberpunk | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Drop Duchy (January 28) | Roguelite / Strategy | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
| MySims: Cozy Bundle (January 29) | Simulation / Family | Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II (January 29) | Third-person Shooter / Action | Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass |
The Game Pass lineup for late January offers a diverse range of titles. The biggest addition is definitely *Death Stranding Director’s Cut*, launching January 21st on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. While it’s a unique game that doesn’t appeal to everyone, those who enjoy Hideo Kojima’s style will find it offers a truly memorable and different experience on Xbox.
Also releasing today is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new side-scrolling game that brings back the feel of the original Ninja Gaiden series, created by the team behind Blasphemous. It’s expected to be a hit with players who enjoy challenging, precisely crafted action games. In contrast, RoadCraft offers a more relaxed experience – it’s a construction simulator where you rebuild areas affected by disasters, and you can play either alone or with friends.
Later in the month, things get exciting with the release of *The Talos Principle 2* on January 27th. This sequel builds on the first game with more challenging puzzles and a deeper story. On January 28th, *Anno: Mutationem* and *Drop Duchy* become available, offering players a blend of cyberpunk action RPG gameplay and a unique roguelite strategy experience.
I’m especially excited about Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, which comes out on January 29th, even though I already have it. I think it’s one of the best games on the list – I admit I’m a bit biased! – and having it on Game Pass will make playing co-op with friends much easier, and that’s when the game is at its best.
Other little tidbits
Xbox Wire also pointed out a couple of recent additions players might not have noticed, like Quarantine Zone: The Last Checkpoint, which launched today with PC Game Pass. In this game, you manage a checkpoint during a zombie outbreak, checking survivors to make sure infected people don’t get through.
Players of Grounded 2 have a new update to anticipate on January 27th! The ‘Garden Update’ will add a Community Garden biome, offering fresh locations to discover and explore.
Several games will be removed from Game Pass on January 31st. These include Shady Part of Me, Starbound, Lonely Mountains Snow Riders, Paw Patrol World, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, in addition to new games being added.
The Game Pass lineup for late January offers a great variety of games, including both popular titles and smaller, more unique experiences to appeal to a wide range of players.
Just a reminder that Xbox is holding a Developer Direct on January 22nd! They’ll be revealing more about games coming this year, like Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation, and possibly other titles, so be sure to tune in.
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2026-01-20 18:40