Ethan Crossfield 
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play Sandustry from August 13, 2026. The day-one early access release is built for PC and combines destructible-world exploration with factory automation, making it a notable option for players who enjoy both Terraria and Factorio. Console subscribers will need to wait, however, because the game does not currently have an Xbox console version or cloud support.
What changed for Xbox Game Pass players
Sandustry is the third brand-new addition to Xbox Game Pass in August 2026 and the service’s 125th release of the year. Hooded Horse launched the game at 11 a.m. ET on August 13, with the early access version available through Steam, the Xbox Store, and Game Pass.
The project comes from Lantto Games, a one-person indie studio. Its central progression loop asks players to dig through fully destructible environments, gather resources, and route those materials into increasingly complicated automated production systems. Better equipment and upgrades then open access to more distant areas, rarer resources, and larger factory projects.
Who can play Sandustry now
Sandustry is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but the benefit is currently limited to PC. Xbox console users cannot access it through their hardware, and Xbox Cloud Gaming is not available for the game at launch.
That restriction stems from the game’s current platform situation: cloud access would require an Xbox console version because Microsoft’s streaming infrastructure uses modified Series X hardware. Sandustry is expected to remain in early access for roughly a year, so a possible console release would likely come later if the project reaches version 1.0 around August 2027. That timing is not confirmed, and no Xbox console launch has been announced.
What is coming next on the service
The August 13 update also brings Cricket 26 to three Xbox Game Pass tiers. MIO: Memories in Orbit, a metroidvania that joined the Ultimate library in January 2026, is now available through the Premium tier as well.
The next currently listed release is Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, which is scheduled to arrive on August 27 as another day-one addition. Microsoft is also expected to reveal the second wave of August 2026 games, with August 18 considered the likely announcement date based on the service’s historical schedule. Egging On is set to join the Premium catalog on that same day, nine months after its earlier debut on the service’s higher tiers.
What players should know
- Sandustry is available from August 13, 2026, as a day-one Game Pass release.
- The game is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Only the PC version is currently supported; Xbox console and cloud access are unavailable.
- Its gameplay combines resource gathering, destructible exploration, survival-crafting, and automated production chains.
- The early access period is expected to last about a year, but a console release has not been confirmed.
Expert View
Sandustry is an appealing Game Pass experiment for PC players who want Terraria’s exploration and crafting framework with Factorio-style production planning. Its early access status and lack of console or cloud support make it a less immediate choice for Xbox hardware users, but the day-one inclusion gives subscribers a low-risk way to assess whether its automation loop has enough depth to sustain a longer campaign.
