Xbox Game Pass to Remove Two 90+ Critic Favorites on July 31

Subscription libraries are constantly in flux, and Xbox Game Pass is entering another churn cycle in late July. Microsoft’s updated “Leaving Soon” list points to seven removals on July 31—two of which sit among the platform’s highest-rated games, a critical hit to the service’s overall catalog profile.

Second July 2026 departure wave: seven titles, two major standouts

Microsoft has published a provisional list of seven Xbox Game Pass titles scheduled to leave the service on July 31. The timing matters for more than just calendar housekeeping: two of the departing games are positioned at the very top end of critic reception on OpenCritic.

Crusader Kings 3 is cited as having an average OpenCritic score in the 90s, placing it at the 99th percentile across OpenCritic’s database. Celeste is also described as a 90+ rated title, with an average score of 92 that the source says puts it at the 100th percentile.

While both games share the same “critics loved it” status, they don’t overlap much beyond that. Crusader Kings 3 is a grand strategy experience, whereas Celeste is known for its platforming focus. Removing both in the same window narrows not only the number of top-rated titles in the catalog, but also the range of critically acclaimed genres available through Game Pass.

What’s leaving on July 31 (and why the app list may shift)

The removal list comes from the “Leaving Soon” section inside the Xbox app, which was updated on July 19. The source cautions that this app-based preview should be treated as preliminary because it doesn’t always exactly match the departures Microsoft later confirms when it publishes its biweekly content roadmaps.

That mismatch has happened before: the source notes that shortly after the July 15 announcements, the service ultimately lost two fewer titles than originally indicated. As a result, the July 31 lineup described here is expected to be finalized in the coming days.

The confirmed set of July 31 departures in the provisional list includes: My Friendly Neighborhood, Back to the Dawn, Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, Rain World, Sniper Elite: Resistance, plus the two headline removals—Crusader Kings 3 and Celeste.

Two of the titles—My Friendly Neighborhood and Back to the Dawn—were previously shown as leaving on July 15 but later disappeared from the Xbox app’s “Leaving Soon” section. The source frames that double-notice pattern as highly unusual, suggesting July 31 may be the more reliable “last chance” window for Game Pass subscribers—at least until Microsoft issues its final confirmation.

Next steps for players: watch for the July 21 confirmation and new additions

Microsoft is expected to finalize the late-July 2026 departure list within days, with the source’s best estimate pointing to July 21 as the likely day when every removal is confirmed. In the usual cadence described here, the Xbox team should announce the departing games alongside the next batch of Game Pass additions—forming the second wave of the July 2026 lineup.

Even before the full replacement roster is revealed, the source indicates the incoming lineup includes Shift at Midnight, a cooperative detective horror game scheduled for July 22 after multiple delays. It also notes that Halo: Campaign Evolved is set to arrive on July 28, while The Planet Crafter will join Game Pass on July 21.

For subscribers trying to squeeze in the departing favorites, the practical takeaway is straightforward: treat July 31 as the key date, but also monitor the Xbox app and Microsoft’s upcoming roadmap update for any last-minute adjustments.

Key points

• Microsoft’s provisional July 31 list includes seven Xbox Game Pass removals.
• Crusader Kings 3 and Celeste are both described as 90+ rated OpenCritic standouts.
• The “Leaving Soon” Xbox app preview (updated July 19) may not perfectly match final announcements.
• Microsoft is expected to confirm the departures around July 21 alongside new Game Pass additions.

Expert View

This kind of two-top-tier-titles departure in a single wave signals how aggressively Microsoft can reshape Game Pass’s critical profile, not just its volume. For players, it reinforces that “Leaving Soon” previews should be treated as a heads-up rather than a final contract—especially given the source’s example of earlier list changes. For the broader market, it highlights how standout, widely acclaimed single-player and genre-defining experiences can still become Game Pass churn targets, which may push communities to coordinate “finish before it leaves” playthroughs and accelerate attention around replacement drops like Shift at Midnight and Halo: Campaign Evolved.