Ethan Crossfield 
If you’re deciding what to play next on Xbox Game Pass, June just added a fresh day-one option: Junkster, a 3D action platformer about a crash-landed construction robot scavenging a dangerous junkyard planet. Here’s what changed for members, which other June launches to watch for, and what’s on the horizon.
What’s new: Junkster arrives day one on Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass subscribers gained another day-one release on June 16 with Junkster, a 3D action platformer from Stormcloud Games. The game puts players in control of UM-13, a small construction robot who’s stranded on a dangerous junkyard planet after a crash landing. UM-13’s mission is part scavenging and part survival: recover lost cargo, collect valuable artifacts, and repair a damaged ship.
Junkster also leans into exploration and problem-solving. Players can use a robo-wrench and a building mechanic to construct objects and tackle environmental challenges as they move through the robot’s temporary home. For subscribers who have been looking for something beyond the usual mix of RPGs and indie hits, Junkster represents a clear platformer-forward addition to the library.
Who’s affected: Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and the broader June rollout
Junkster is available day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers, continuing the service’s pattern of adding new titles across Xbox consoles, PC, cloud, and handheld options. June has been particularly active early on, with Game Pass already receiving a range of genres in the first half of the month.
Among the earlier additions mentioned in the source are Solarpunk (open-world survival), Undisputed (boxing), Persona 5 Royal (returning RPG), Beastro (cooking-focused life sim and deckbuilder), Frog Squwad (co-op platformer), and Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions. With Junkster now in the mix, the lineup continues to expand with day-one releases rather than relying only on later rotating catalog updates.
What comes next: more day-one Game Pass launches and July plans
Junkster isn’t the only day-one release scheduled for the rest of June. On June 17, subscribers are set to get Shift at Midnight, a co-op detective horror game launching day one. The source also points to EA Sports UFC arriving through EA Play for Game Pass Ultimate members as it enters early access on June 18.
For players tracking strategy and mobile releases, Age of Empires Mobile (PC edition) is listed for a June 23 launch. Looking beyond June, the source notes that Palworld’s official 1.0 version is expected in July after more than two years in early access.
Platformer fans also have plenty to choose from within the subscription ecosystem. The source highlights Hollow Knight: Silksong as a standout, alongside Super Meat Boy 3D and Planet of Lana 2. Co-op titles remain well represented through EA Play with Game Pass, including It Takes Two. Additional platforming and adventurous options mentioned include Little Nightmares 2, Replaced (a cyberpunk platforming adventure set in an alternate 1980s America), and Denshattack, which the source says launches on July 17 with players controlling a train racing through dystopian Japan.
What players should know
- Junkster is a day-one addition on June 16 for Game Pass Ultimate and PC subscribers.
- You play as UM-13, a crash-landed construction robot tasked with restoring cargo and repairing a damaged ship.
- The game includes building mechanics that help solve environmental challenges in a junkyard setting.
- June continues with more day-one releases, including Shift at Midnight on June 17.
| Game | When it was mentioned | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Junkster | June 16 (day one) | 3D action platformer with building and scavenging |
| Shift at Midnight | June 17 (day one) | Co-op detective horror |
| EA Sports UFC | June 18 (early access via EA Play) | Fighting game for Game Pass Ultimate members |
| Age of Empires Mobile: PC Edition | June 23 | Strategy release for PC |
| Denshattack | July 17 | Fast-paced platformer about a train in dystopian Japan |
Expert View
Junkster’s timing is smart for Game Pass: it adds a clear, day-one platformer with a distinctive premise—robot construction tools, scavenging goals, and building-based traversal—at a moment when June’s catalog already spans survival, RPG, boxing, and co-op. If you prefer action-platform structure over longer narrative RPGs, it’s an easy “try first” pick. For everyone else, the broader month still looks strong, especially with additional day-one entries and ongoing EA Play access for co-op and sports content.
