Game Pass Games Jump in Late January 2026 as Xbox Ramps Up a Big 2026 Pipeline

Xbox is closing January 2026 with a fresh wave of Game Pass games—headlined by Death Stranding Director’s Cut and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II—while also teeing up a major Xbox 2026 showcase-style broadcast later this week. The timing is no accident: this is the classic “play now, hype next” one-two punch meant to keep subscribers busy today while building momentum for the year’s biggest first-party releases.

The practical takeaway for players is clear: you’ve got new additions landing across cloud, console, and PC, a confirmed list of games exiting at the end of the month, and a near-term Xbox update event that should clarify what 2026 looks like beyond the service library.

• Death Stranding Director’s Cut lands on Game Pass on January 21, 2026.

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II follows on January 29, 2026.

• Resident Evil Village is already available in the latest drop.

• A set of titles leaves Game Pass on January 31, 2026, so the clock is ticking on finishing (or buying) them.

• Xbox has a Developer_Direct on January 22, 2026 (1pm ET / 6pm GMT) focused on several headline 2026 releases.

Game Pass games: what’s new right now and what’s coming next

The late-January Game Pass wave is designed to cover multiple tastes: blockbuster action, narrative sci-fi, puzzle-heavy thinking games, and a couple of day-one style surprises. Here’s the lineup and the dates most players care about.

Available now

• Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, PC)

• MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, Xbox Series X|S)

Coming soon (late January into early February)

• Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Cloud, Handheld, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — Jan 21

• RoadCraft (PC) — Jan 21

• Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — Jan 21

• The Talos Principle 2 (PC, Xbox Series X|S) — Jan 27

• Anno: Mutationem (Cloud, Console, PC) — Jan 28

• Drop Duchy (Cloud, Console, PC) — Jan 28

• MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) — Jan 29

• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — Jan 29

• Indika (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — Feb 2

If you’ve been waiting for “big-ticket” Game Pass additions instead of smaller indies, this wave answers that—while still keeping variety for people who treat Game Pass like a discovery engine.

Games leaving Game Pass on January 31: what to finish first

Xbox also confirmed the titles departing the library at the end of the month. If your backlog is brutal, prioritize shorter campaigns first, or anything you’re mid-run on.

Leaving January 31, 2026:

• Shady Part of Me (Cloud, PC, Console)

• Cataclismo (PC)

• Starbound (Cloud, PC, Console)

• Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, Console)

• Paw Patrol World (Cloud, PC, Console)

• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, Console)

• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, Console)

The usual “leaving soon” play is simple: if you’re attached, grab the discount purchase option before removal so you can keep it in your library.

Latest Xbox news: Developer_Direct on Jan. 22 sets the tone for Xbox 2026

The other reason Xbox is trending this week is the confirmed Developer_Direct broadcast on Thursday, January 22, 2026, scheduled for 1pm ET / 6pm GMT. The show is positioned as a gameplay-and-details event—less cinematic teaser, more “here’s what it plays like” and “here’s how it’s changing.”

The slate includes:

• Fable (extended look)

• Forza Horizon 6 (gameplay reveal, set in Japan)

• Beast of Reincarnation (deeper dive, action RPG)

That’s why the Game Pass wave matters beyond just “more games”: it’s a pacing move. Game Pass keeps engagement high while Xbox sets up a clearer narrative for its 2026 tentpoles.

For years, Xbox has used subscription drops and showcase beats as a rhythm: library updates keep people playing weekly, while a few tentpole moments define the platform’s identity for the year. In the early Xbox One era, the conversation was dominated by exclusives and console power; today, the conversation is just as much about service value, release cadence, and where you can play (console, PC, cloud, handheld-optimized).

FAQ

What are the biggest new Game Pass games right now?
The headline additions in this wave are Death Stranding Director’s Cut and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, alongside Resident Evil Village already available.

When do games leave Game Pass at the end of January 2026?
This batch exits on January 31, 2026.

What’s the next major Xbox 2026 event?
The next scheduled broadcast is Developer_Direct on January 22, 2026 (1pm ET / 6pm GMT), with gameplay-focused updates on Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation.

The next 48 hours are the tell: if the Developer_Direct delivers concrete gameplay depth (not just vibes), Xbox 2026 shifts from “promising” to “mapped out.” If the show stays vague, Game Pass will keep carrying the weekly momentum—but the bigger 2026 story will remain unfinished until release dates and real mechanics land.