Xbox Game Pass loses two titles later today, bringing the total number removed so far this year to 128 – although it has already made up for them in orders of magnitude. While overall 2025 has been a significant net positive for the Xbox Game Pass library, this year's data is skewed by an unusual event that is unlikely to be replicated in 2026.
The December 31st Xbox Game Pass removal includes the innovative horror game Carcass and the tactical first-person shooter All hell breaks loose. This will mark the platform's final catalog update in 2025. In addition to being the last to leave, Carcass was also the first title added to Xbox Game Pass this year. In the meantime, All hell breaks loose was the second to join the service in 2024.
The 15 Best Day One Xbox Game Pass Games in 2025
Xbox Game Pass has had one of its strongest years yet, with several Game of the Year contenders beating the subscription service in 2025.
Xbox Game Pass added 88 more titles than it lost in 2025
Those Xbox Game Pass departures at the end of December bring the platform's total number of removals in 2025 to 128. However, that's still well below its additions so far this year; ignoring extended releases — like a title reaching more XGP levels or platforms — 216 games have joined the service over the course of 2025. In other words, Xbox Game Pass added 88 more titles than it removed over the past 12 months. The difference is much smaller for non-Ultimate subscribers, as the Premium tier (called Standard until recently) gained 163 titles this year, outnumbering the removals by 35. The Essential tier (recently renamed from Core) only gained 10 new games in 2025, but it didn't lose any either.
Xbox Game Pass 2025 catalog changes in numbers
|
2025 |
Games added |
Games removed |
Network change |
|---|---|---|---|
|
January |
13 |
12 |
+1 |
|
February |
8 |
16 |
-8 |
|
March |
9 |
17 |
-8 |
|
April |
14 |
14 |
|
|
May |
17 |
10 |
+7 |
|
June |
17 |
13 |
+4 |
|
July |
17 |
9 |
+8 |
|
August |
13 |
8 |
+5 |
|
September |
14 |
6 |
+8 |
|
October |
66 |
7 |
+59 |
|
November |
20 |
10 |
+10 |
|
december |
8 |
6 |
+2 |
|
Total |
216 |
128 |
+88 |
“Games added” only counts brand new standalone catalog entries. New retro classics and expansions to additional Game Pass levels or platforms are excluded, while returning titles are included.
The Xbox Game Pass-exclusive Retro Classic service has also added 82 titles over the course of 2025. Including these releases, the total net change increases from +82 to +170 for the year. But while the service often focuses on standout or otherwise well-known retro games, many subscribers don't see these legacy add-ons as equivalent to receiving standalone new titles via Xbox Game Pass.
The Xbox Game Pass 2025 net change is skewed by an unprecedented event
The net change of +88 represents the most significant annual increase in the Xbox Game Pass library since its launch in 2017. However, such growth is unlikely to be repeated in the near future. This year's expansion was largely fueled by Microsoft shadowing 48 new titles to support a hefty price hike for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in October 2025, raising the monthly fee from $19.99 to $29.99. The move was unprecedented and may not be repeated anytime soon, even as Microsoft eventually finds itself wanting to justify another price hike.
Xbox Game Pass 2025 Stats
- New retro classics: 82
- New Ultimate Games: 216
- New PC games: 204
- New Standard/Premium games: 163
-
New Core/Essential games: 10
- March 26: Tunic, Batman: Arkham Knight, Monster Sanctuary
- October 1: Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Disney Dreamlight Valley, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide, Hades
- December 3: Medieval Dynasty, Stellaris, World War Z: Aftermath
- Recurring game: 12
- Deleted games: 128
-
Games both added and removed this year: 6
-
Paw Patrol World (3 months)
-
Barbie Project Friendship (5 months)
-
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed (5 months)
-
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition (4 months)
-
Gigantic: Rampage Edition (6 months)
-
Master Blacksmith (2 months)
-
-
Average monthly additions (without retro classics):
- Final: 18
- PC: 17
- Standard/Premium: 13.58
- Core/Important: 0.83
- Average monthly removals: 10.67
-
Annual catalog size net changes:
- Final: +88 games
- PC: +76
- Premium: +35 games
- Basic: +10 games
Platform-wise, the vast majority of 2025 Game Pass arrivals were released for both PC and Xbox Series X/S. In addition to PC exclusives, virtually every 2025 expansion was also made available via Xbox Cloud Gaming. The PC exception is to be expected because Microsoft's game streaming service runs on custom Series X consoles, which means it can't play PC titles.
