Xbox Game Pass adds 2 Premium and 3 Essential games

Xbox Game Pass has added five more titles across its two lower tiers, with the Essential library getting three games and the Premium catalog getting two. While more titles are scheduled to reach Premium subscribers later in December, today's update likely marks the last 2025 additions to the Essential tier of Xbox Game Pass.

The new Premium titles are Monster train 2 and Spray paint simulatorwhich has been part of PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate since the second half of May 2025. Monster train 2 was launched on May 21, with Spray paint simulator the following eight days later. Both were daily add-ons to the subscription service.

Monster Train 2 and Spray Paint Simulator reach Xbox Game Pass Premium after 6 month delay

Xbox Game Pass Premium subscribers got Spray paint simulator and Monster train 2 around midnight local time on December 3rd. A six-month delay between the Ultimate and Premium tier editions usually points to one-year licenses, meaning both of these titles could leave Xbox Game Pass in May or June 2026. The sample size is still small (the Standard/Premium tier, which lacks day-one games, is only 15 months old), but since most 20-20 days have moved to a longer version of this version. they were not intended to stay on duty for (much) more than a year.

3 more titles now available on Xbox Game Pass Essential

The December 3 catalog update also saw Xbox Game Pass Essential gain three new titles: Stellaris, World War Z: Aftermathand Medieval dynasty. Unlike the Premium add-ons, these games are unlikely to leave Microsoft's subscription service anytime soon. Since Xbox Game Pass Core replaced Xbox Live Gold in September 2023, the $9.99-per-month tier — renamed XGP Essential in October — has only added new games, not dropped any. Although Microsoft has stated that the Essential library will not remain permanent, titles added to this entry level are generally expected to remain on the service for longer than a year.

After today's update, the list of 2025 additions to Xbox Game Pass Essential now totals 10 titles, starting with Batman: Arkham Knight, Monster Sanctuaryand Tunicwho joined the group at the end of March. No further additions to the Essential tier catalog are expected before spring 2026.

All games added to Xbox Game Pass Core/Essential 2025

1. Batman: Arkham Knight (March 26)

2. Monster Sanctuary (March 26)

3. Tunic (March 26)

4. Cities: Skylines – Remastered (October 1)

5. Disney Dreamlight Valley (October 1)

6. Hades (October 1)

7. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (October 1)

8. Medieval Dynasty (December 3)

9. Stellaris (December 3)

10. World War Z: Aftermath (December 3)

What's next for Xbox Game Pass?

Eight more titles are confirmed to come to at least one tier of Microsoft's subscription service before the end of the month. The December 2025 lineup includes six Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, ranging from Routine on December 4 to Mortal Kombat 1 on December 10. The remaining two are Premium add-ons: 33 Immortals and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Xbox Game Pass Release Calendar (officially confirmed dates only)

Microsoft's latest listing announcement indicates that Xbox Game Pass may not have a Wave 2 lineup for December 2025. A similar pattern occurred last year, although the official announcement of the December 2024 lineup stretched into January, which is not the case this time. As a result, it is more difficult than usual to predict the next key date for the service. In a typical month, the Wave 2 reveal is expected around December 16th ie. on the third Tuesday of the month. But with no such update expected, the next Xbox Game Pass lineup announcement could come as late as early January 2026.