Xbox Game Pass is removing its second major batch of titles this month, with eight games departing on July 31 including the indie platformer Celeste and the strategy role-playing game Crusader Kings 3, both of which have been fixtures on the service for years. Combined with ten titles that already left on July 15, a total of eighteen games are exiting Game Pass in July—a marked increase from thirteen departures in June, signalling accelerated content churn.

The timing reflects Xbox's broader strategic difficulties. The company has implemented significant restructuring and layoffs whilst managing subscriber losses stemming from a 2025 price increase, which prompted a slight price reduction and launch of a cheaper tier. Reports suggest Xbox is abandoning its previous strategy of offering new first-party games on day-one through Game Pass, representing a fundamental shift in how the service positions itself as a competitive offering.