Ethan Crossfield 
Xbox Game Pass subscribers have a short window to finish eight departing games before June 30. If you’re on the fence—especially for the Tomb Raider entries—this is your reminder to prioritize what you actually want to keep playing.
What’s changing at the end of June
Xbox Game Pass is set to remove eight games before the month ends, continuing the service’s long-running pattern of cycling titles in and out. The announcement lands alongside a broader look at the program’s future: an Xbox Games Showcase earlier in June outlined plans through the end of 2026 and highlighted titles aimed for 2027. In total, 17 games were revealed for Xbox Game Pass, including major names such as Persona 6, Minecraft Dungeons 2, and Spyro: A Realm Beyond.
While new additions are coming, the June 30 removals mean subscribers will need to decide quickly whether to push through unfinished play or revisit games they’ve already started. The service also continues to operate with advance notice for departures, giving players time to adjust schedules rather than losing access without warning.
Who’s affected: the eight games leaving June 30
The following titles are scheduled to leave Xbox Game Pass on June 30:
Mecha Break (Console, PC, Cloud)
Payday 2 (Console)
Rise of the Tomb Raider (Console, PC, Cloud)
Slay the Spire (Console, PC, Cloud)
Tomb Raider (Console, PC, Cloud)
Ultimate Chicken Horse (Console, PC, Cloud)
Unpacking (Console, PC, Cloud)
Volcano Princess (Console, PC, Cloud)
For many players, the biggest concern is timing—two Lara Croft adventures are departing on the same day. Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider are both leaving June 30, which also affects how much of the Survivor trilogy is available through the subscription. Once July begins, subscribers will no longer have full access to that trilogy, with only Shadow of the Tomb Raider remaining available on Game Pass after the removals.
Elsewhere, Payday 2 is also on the list. The source notes that Payday 3 isn’t currently available on Xbox Game Pass, so fans of the series won’t have an in-service alternative if they want to keep playing without switching to purchases.
What to do next: decide whether the trade-off is worth it
Game Pass has historically given players enough lead time to plan around removals, whether that means buying a game you won’t finish in time or speeding up your playthrough to reach a stopping point before access ends. The service’s ecosystem also matters: the source indicates that none of the departing titles are in danger of being delisted from the Microsoft Store, and Game Pass subscribers can access discounts on these games. That means players who want to continue after June 30 may still be able to keep playing through purchase.
Unpacking is a notable case for different reasons. The source points out that reviews criticized the game’s length, which could actually make it a convenient “last chance” pick for subscribers who want something they can complete quickly. Meanwhile, the broader context matters too: the source claims Game Pass has fewer subscribers than it once did, following a major price increase in 2025—so the value question is likely sharper for many users deciding what to prioritize next.
What players should know
- June 30 is the cutoff: you’ll lose access to eight games before the month ends.
- Tomb Raider and Rise of the Tomb Raider leave on the same day, which reduces access to the Survivor trilogy on Game Pass.
- Payday 2 is leaving, and Payday 3 isn’t currently available on Game Pass as an alternative.
- Departing games stay available on the Microsoft Store, and Game Pass subscribers can get discounts if you want to keep playing after removal.
- If you want a quick playthrough option, Unpacking may be the easiest “finish before it’s gone” target.
Expert View
This batch of removals is a mixed bag: the Tomb Raider timing is likely the most disruptive for subscribers who were working through the Survivor trilogy, while titles like Unpacking offer a clearer path to a quick finish before access ends. The key decision for players is whether you’ll treat these as “last-chance” playthroughs or convert to ownership—especially since Game Pass continues to cycle content even as new 2026–2027 announcements roll in.
