While Xbox’s corporate upper management is busy navigating a turbulent wave of studio restructurings and layoffs, the gears of the Xbox Game Pass machine keep grinding forward. For the service's 30 million remaining subscribers, July 2026 is bringing an eclectic mix of absolute classics, bizarre indie gems, and high-octane action to help us all survive the summer heat Grab a cold drink, fire up your console or PC, and let's dive into what's hitting the service this month. The Headliner: A Weirdly Backwards Skate Session Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 The biggest news this month is undoubtedly for the digital skaters out there. In a bit of an odd chronological twist, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 already rolled onto the service on July 2nd. However, if you want to complete the package and go back to where the legendary franchise rebuilt its modern foundations, you'll have to wait just a bit longer. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) lands on July 21st for Premium, PC, and Ultimate tiers. Getting all four beautifully remastered classic skate titles under one subscription roof is a massive win for nostalgia chasers and high-score hunters alike. The Indie Wildcards and Hidden Gems If skateboarding isn’t your thing, Microsoft is injecting some seriously unique flavor into the lineup. Two titles in particular stand out if you love intense, fast-paced action: Tamashika (July 9): Described as a completely mind-melting FPS, this ultra-colorful, ultra-weird shooter drops you into tight corridors to slice up hand-drawn enemies at breakneck speeds. Ascend to ZERO (July 13): A gorgeous bullet-hell roguelite that relies heavily on explosive action and time-stopping mechanics to help you survive overwhelming odds. The Planet Crafter (July 21): A massive treat for survival and sci-fi fans. You’re dropped onto a hostile planet with one goal: terraform it into a lush, breathable paradise. For the sports and racing fans, look out for PBA Pro Bowling 2026 on July 14th and the mountain biking simulator MAVRIX by Matt Jones dropping on July 16th. Oh, and if you are on the Premium tier, Gears of War: Reloaded gets its upgrade on July 9th. Mark Your Calendar: The July 2026 Arrival Schedule July 2: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Premium) July 6: Winds of Arcana: Ruination (Premium, PC, Ultimate) July 9: Gears of War: Reloaded (Premium, PC, Ultimate) & Tamashika (Premium, PC, Ultimate) July 13: Ascend to Zero (PC, Ultimate) July 14: PBA Pro Bowling 2026 (Premium, PC, Ultimate) July 15: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Premium, PC, Ultimate) July 16: MAVRIX by Matt Jones (Premium, PC, Ultimate) July 17: FixForce (Premium, PC, Ultimate) & Fogpiercer (PC, Ultimate) July 21: The Planet Crafter (Premium, PC, Ultimate) & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Premium, PC, Ultimate) Say Goodbye: Leaving on July 15th As always, a fresh batch of games means we have to bid farewell to some older favorites. You have until July 15th to wrap up your achievements or buy these with your 20% member discount before they drop off the service. The biggest heavy-hitter leaving the library is easily EA Sports FC 24, alongside popular mainstream hits like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and casual multiplayer favorites like Powerwash Simulator and Golf With Your Friends. The Full Departure List: Dungeons of Hinterberg EA Sports FC 24 Stellaris Golf With Your Friends Minami Lane Powerwash Simulator Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Splitgate: Arena Reloaded Super Fantasy Kingdom Techtonica What are you planning to play first this month? Are you grinding rails with Tony Hawk or testing your reflexes in Tamashika? Let us know in the comments below! Using Game Pass? Make sure to enable it in your profile settings so these new titles load into your library automatically!
