2 sources
Xbox Game Pass Essential adds five new games in July 2026 update
Microsoft expanded its Xbox Game Pass Essential subscription tier with five new games in early July 2026, marking the second update to the entry-level catalog this year.
Key points
- This is the second expansion of the Xbox Game Pass Essential catalog in 2026.
- The new games are expected to remain available on the Essential tier for at least one year.
- The update follows a previous addition of nine games to the Essential tier in May 2026.
- Four of the five newly added games were not specified in the reports.