In a month defined by strong arrivals and barely-noticed departures, Xbox Game Pass just pulled off one of its most player-friendly rotations of the year.
Three games are exiting Xbox Game Pass on July 31: Gigantic: Rampage Edition, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and Turnip Boy Robs a Bank. All are decent indie-to-mid-tier experiences, but none are tentpole titles. And that, in itself, is the story. Microsoft is quietly executing a content strategy that maximizes perceived value while minimizing loss.
What’s Leaving, and Why It’s a Win
The three departing titles—available until the end of July with typical Game Pass discounts for subscribers—represent a tactical pruning rather than a painful loss. Gigantic: Rampage Edition had a niche fanbase but struggled to hold attention in a saturated hero shooter market. Kunitsu-Gami, though beautifully stylized, failed to generate sustained buzz. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank brought quirky charm but limited replayability.
Compare that to past removal waves, which have seen games like Persona 5 Royal or Red Dead Redemption 2 quietly slip away. By contrast, this July’s removals feel like a calculated soft touch.
Game Pass Just Got a Major Power-Up
While only three titles are departing, over a dozen arrived throughout July, including three major day-one launches:
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (July 24) – A dark, Soulsborne-style RPG steeped in mythic Chinese folklore and political intrigue. Early reactions praise its combat and visual design.
- Abiotic Factor (July 22) – A survival-crafting co-op set in a retrofuturistic research lab gone wrong. Think Half-Life meets Valheim.
- Grounded 2 (July 29) – Obsidian’s backyard survival sim returns with bug mounts, new biomes, and expanded co-op. It hits early access, but early builds suggest more depth and polish.
These are not filler additions. They’re potential flagship experiences aimed at different player types: hardcore RPG fans, creative co-op survivalists, and community-driven base builders.
The Bigger Backlog: July Additions Recap
Beyond the big three, Game Pass added a buffet of other titles:
- High On Life – The Rick & Morty-flavored shooter makes a triumphant return.
- RoboCop: Rogue City and My Friendly Neighborhood – For players craving throwback grit or puppet-fueled horror.
- Back to the Dawn – An anthropomorphic prison RPG that slipped under the radar.
- Wheel World – A cycling-based open world game that blends chill traversal with quirky storytelling.
There’s more, including Ultimate Chicken Horse, Crash Bandicoot 4, Legend of Mana, Little Nightmares II, Minami Lane, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 (the surprise reissue).
This month wasn’t just well-stocked; it was curated with real range.
Community Reactions: “Is Xbox Cooking Again?”
Across Reddit and Twitter, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s been a long time since I opened Game Pass and felt paralyzed by too many good choices,” wrote one user on r/XboxGamePass.
“They’re dropping Grounded 2, Wuchang, and Abiotic in the same week? That’s a mini E3.”
Other players noted how rare it is to see a month with both strong additions and negligible losses. That’s where Game Pass shines: not just through what it adds, but through what it carefully keeps.
Industry Watch: Microsoft’s Strategy Pays Off
Microsoft’s Game Pass model thrives on the balance between FOMO and value. Remove a beloved title like Monster Hunter World or Persona 5 and you stir backlash. But if you quietly rotate out underperformers while injecting bangers, you avoid churn.
This approach is also a flex on Sony. PlayStation Plus Essential has focused on evergreen classics and sporadic hits, but its mid-tier lacks the same day-one firepower. Microsoft’s early access drops and indie partnerships keep its ecosystem dynamic.
And with Grounded 2 and Wuchang both hitting in July’s final stretch, Microsoft positions Game Pass not as a passive vault, but a live event.
What’s Next for August?
Game removal updates typically land around the 1st and 15th of each month, so expect August’s wave-one list soon. But early whispers suggest we could see:
- Ninja Gaiden 4 (Gamescom surprise?)
- Outer Worlds 2 (new trailer buzz)
- Little Nightmares 3 (rumored for Game Pass debut)
- Metal Gear Solid Delta (wild card, but Konami’s new Game Pass friendliness is notable)
If even two of those materialize, August could eclipse July’s performance.
Final Word: Game Pass Is Back in Its Groove
After a rocky spring filled with middling indies and confusing content gaps, July 2025 is a reminder of why Game Pass became a dominant force. The magic isn’t just in what arrives. It’s in how intelligently Microsoft chooses what leaves.
Whether this is the start of a hot streak or a well-timed anomaly, one thing is clear: if July’s lineup becomes the new normal, Game Pass isn’t just surviving. It’s thriving.
