Xbox has announced the first September 2026 additions to Game Pass, but the opening wave is relatively modest. Only one upcoming title is exclusive to the Ultimate tier rather than also launching on the cheaper Premium plan, while several substantial games are scheduled to leave on 15 September.
The main new release is Speedrunners 2: King of Speed, a multiplayer 2D platform racing game and sequel to the well-reviewed 2016 original on Steam. It is a welcome addition, although its Ultimate-only status may leave some subscribers questioning the value of the top-tier plan.
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Here is the complete first wave, as listed by Xbox in its September 2026 update: in wave 1 for September 2026.
- Shelldiver — 1 September
Cloud, console and PC. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.- Speedrunners 2: King of Speed — 3 September
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.- Dice a Million — 4 September
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC. New to Game Pass Premium, alongside Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War — 8 September
Cloud, console and PC. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.- The Royal Writ — 10 September
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.- Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage — 10 September
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.- RuneScape: Dragonwilds — 15 September
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.
Notable additions and extras
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage stand out among the other arrivals, although both are older releases. Xbox also says that TCG Card Shop Simulator, already included with the service, will receive its 1.0 release on 15 September.
EA Sports NHL 27 is due to receive an early-access trial from 4 September. Players preparing to start Aniimo, a new Pokémon-like role-playing game that has attracted questions about its use of artificial intelligence, will also receive a free reward pack.
Subscribers looking beyond digital releases can explore RETROCADE’s arcade videos or browse the arcade machine range for a different kind of gaming setup.
Games leaving Game Pass on 15 September
Cyberpunk 2077 is not the only major title departing mid-month. Dead Cells, Deep Rock Galactic Survivor, Frostpunk 2, Mullet Madjack and Spiritfarer are also scheduled to leave the service on the same day.
August was an unusually strong month for Game Pass, so the quieter September opening is not necessarily a serious concern. However, Ultimate subscribers will be hoping the second half delivers more substance before Gears of War: E-Day arrives in October.
For practical advice on choosing a dedicated home gaming setup, RETROCADE’s Arcade Machine Buying Guide covers the key considerations.
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