The second wave of July Game Pass additions just dropped, and it is a genuinely strong lineup. Between a rebuilt Halo classic, Game Freak's first new IP in years, and a handful of Day One arrivals, subscribers have a lot to work through before the month is out.
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The headline arrival: Halo: Campaign Evolved
Halo: Campaign Evolved lands on July 28 as a Day One Game Pass title, and it is more than a simple remaster. This is a full rebuild of Halo: Combat Evolved's campaign from the ground up, featuring HD visuals, refined controls, up to 4-player online co-op, 3 brand-new missions, and an expanded arsenal with new weapons, vehicles, and enemies added to the mix.
For anyone who has been wondering exactly which Game Pass tiers include it and what edition subscribers actually get, the Halo: Campaign Evolved Game Pass guide has the full breakdown. The short version: Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass both cover it at launch.
Game Freak goes post-apocalyptic with Beast of Reincarnation
Here is the thing: Beast of Reincarnation might be the most interesting game in this entire wave. Game Freak, the studio behind Pokemon, is shipping an entirely new IP on August 4 as a Day One Game Pass title. The game is billed as a "one-person, one-dog action RPG" set in a beautiful but brutal post-apocalyptic Japan, blending real-time and turn-based combat. The story follows Emma and her dog Koo navigating whatever remains of civilization.
Game Freak building something outside its comfort zone is worth paying attention to. This is the studio's first original console IP in a long time, and dropping it Day One on Game Pass means there is no barrier to trying it.
Day One arrivals filling out the rest of July
Beyond those two headliners, three more Day One titles round out the wave.
- Shift at Midnight (July 22): An online co-op detective horror game built around randomly generated shifts. You investigate customers, figure out which ones are dangerous, and then scramble to survive when things go sideways. Supports three-player co-op.
- Mistfall Hunter (July 30): A dark fantasy extraction ARPG that works solo or in a group. The loop is straightforward: fight through, loot up, extract. It skews toward players who enjoy build-crafting with skills, talents, and gear combinations per class.
- Corsair Cove (July 31, PC only): A pirate city-builder asking you to manage production chains, raise a fleet, and keep a rowdy crew in line. Niche appeal, but city-builder fans will want to check it in.
Hell is Us and The Planet Crafter for solo players
Hell is Us hits July 23 across Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC under Game Pass Ultimate and Premium. The pitch is a melee-focused action game set in a nation torn apart by civil war and a supernatural curse, with deliberate exploration and no hand-holding. The game actively avoids waypoints and quest markers, leaning on environmental storytelling instead.
The Planet Crafter was already available as of July 21, so if you missed it, it is in the library now. Solo or co-op terraforming with a survival loop, building toward making an entire hostile planet habitable. Chill by design, with a satisfying long-term progression arc.
Heretic + Hexen joins Game Pass Premium on August 4
Heretic + Hexen was already available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but the August 4 update brings it to Game Pass Premium as well. This enhanced restoration of two classic dark fantasy shooters now covers more platforms and languages than the original releases ever did. If you have been sitting on a Premium subscription and have not tried these, they hold up better than most people expect.
Eight games leaving July 31
Before the new arrivals fully take over, eight titles are leaving the library on July 31. The key ones to flag:
- Celeste
- Crusader Kings 3
- Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord
- Rain World
- Sniper Elite Resistance
- Back to the Dawn
- My Friendly Neighborhood
- Whiskerwood (PC)
What most players miss is that leaving games can often be purchased at a discount before they exit the library. Worth checking your queue before the end of the month.
What this means for subscribers
This wave sits well above average for a mid-month Game Pass drop. Four Day One titles in a single wave is not standard, and having both a major first-party franchise rebuild and a new Game Freak IP in the same batch is the kind of thing that justifies the subscription cost on its own.
For players already tracking the broader Xbox ecosystem, it is also worth noting that Forza Horizon 6 is on the horizon. The Forza Horizon 6 Car Pass guide covers everything confirmed so far on the vehicle lineup and whether the pass is worth picking up.
For everything else arriving on the platform, the full gaming guides hub has you covered as each new title drops.
