Ethan Crossfield 
Xbox Game Pass may lose two of its most prominent recent additions in September 2026. Hades and Hollow Knight: Silksong are both approaching one year in Microsoft's subscription catalog, making them plausible candidates for removal even though neither departure has been confirmed.
What Happened
Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived on Xbox Game Pass at launch on September 4, 2025. Hades followed on September 19, placing both games near the usual one-year point associated with many third-party Game Pass agreements. Microsoft had not announced either removal as of August 8, 2026, but that does not rule out a September change. Game Pass departures are commonly revealed as much as two weeks before they occur.
The timing matters because both games were among the most notable releases in the September 2025 Game Pass lineup. Losing either would remove a major single-player title from the service, while losing both would make the month especially significant for subscribers.
Why Silksong May Stay Longer Than Hades
Hades appears to be the more vulnerable of the two games. Supergiant Games has supported Xbox Game Pass with three of its five released titles: Pyre, Hades, and Hades 2. Pyre joined in March 2021 and left in August of that year, while Hades 2 entered the service in April 2026. That history does not guarantee a removal, but it shows that Supergiant titles have not all remained indefinitely.
Team Cherry presents a different picture. The original Hollow Knight joined Game Pass in June 2019, several months after the complete Voidheart Edition launched. The Xbox app later listed that edition for removal in December 2025, but the notice disappeared and the game remains available. Its long stay of more than seven years is a strong reason to think Silksong could continue beyond its first anniversary.
That precedent is not proof of a renewed agreement, yet it gives Silksong a better outlook than Hades based on the information currently available.
What to Watch Next
The next confirmed Game Pass removals are scheduled for August 15: Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand, Menace, Firewatch, and Alien: Fireteam Elite. Two of those games will have spent no more than 12 months on the service when they leave, offering a recent comparison for Hades' situation.
Players should watch Microsoft's upcoming catalog announcements rather than treat the September departures as settled. If Hades is removed, its nearly year-long run would fit a familiar Game Pass pattern. If Silksong remains, Team Cherry's history would become an even stronger indicator that its deal is structured differently from many third-party arrangements.
Key takeaways for Game Pass subscribers
- Neither Hades nor Hollow Knight: Silksong has an officially confirmed September departure.
- Hades joined Game Pass on September 19, 2025, making it the more obvious one-year candidate.
- Silksong launched into Game Pass on September 4, 2025, but Team Cherry has a strong retention precedent.
- The August 15 removals show that some games can leave after roughly 12 months.
- Players who want uninterrupted access should monitor Microsoft's next catalog updates.
Game Pass timeline and current outlook
| Game | Added to Game Pass | Current outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Hollow Knight: Silksong | September 4, 2025 | Possible September departure, but less likely than Hades |
| Hades | September 19, 2025 | Reasonable candidate for a September removal |
| Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition | June 2019 | Still on the service after a withdrawn removal notice |
| Hades 2 | April 2026 | Currently part of the catalog |
Expert View
Hades is the title subscribers should watch most closely, but Silksong is the more interesting test of Xbox Game Pass durability. Team Cherry's original Hollow Knight has remained available for years, suggesting that Silksong may not follow the standard one-year cycle. Until Microsoft publishes its September notices, the safest conclusion is that Hades faces real removal risk while Silksong remains a genuine possibility rather than an expected loss.
