Xbox Game Pass in January 2026: new releases, day-one launches, and removals

Microsoft has rolled out an updated slate of Xbox Game Pass titles for January 2026 and flagged the games set to leave the catalog soon. Subscribers are in for a sizable refresh, spanning big-budget releases, indie favorites, and day-one launches.

Among the headliners is Mortal Kombat 1, now available to Game Pass members on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and via the cloud. The fighter has enjoyed substantial post-launch support and remains a strong entry point into the rebooted Mortal Kombat universe.

Another standout is ROUTINE—a sci-fi survival-horror with a retrofuturist look that spent more than a decade in development. It debuted straight into Game Pass and quickly became one of the service’s most talked-about games, thanks to its mood and sound design.

Also joining the catalog is the dark action RPG Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden from Don’t Nod, a studio known for emotionally driven narratives. The game blends a dramatic story with the supernatural and moral choices that steer the plot.

Game Pass will keep adding titles through January and February. Near-term arrivals include Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, High on Life 2, and Towerborne, with some set to be available on day one.

At the same time, Microsoft is warning about removals. By mid-January, Road 96, The Ascent, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and several other projects will exit the service. Subscribers can buy them at a discount before they leave.

Taken together, the opening weeks of 2026 reinforce Microsoft’s approach: Xbox Game Pass remains one of the market’s most stacked subscriptions, balancing marquee releases with unexpected indie finds.