Xbox Game Pass Says Goodbye to Popular Titles as Subscriber Count Declines

Xbox has announced a major restructuring, with plans to lay off 3,200 employees by July 2027. In a memo detailing these layoffs, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma noted that Xbox Game Pass “did not grow at the pace we expected.” Recent reports indicate that the subscriber count for Game Pass has dropped to 30 million, down from 34 million in February 2024, and significantly below the projected 77 million subscribers expected by July 2026.

Adding to the challenges, Xbox Game Pass is set to lose several popular titles this month. On Tuesday, the company revealed the new games coming to the service in the first half of July, alongside those that will be leaving. On July 15, subscribers will lose access to 10 games, including one of the standout dungeon crawlers that doesn’t feature “Zelda” in its title.

Dungeons of Hinterberg made its debut on Game Pass in July 2024, offering a unique blend of Zelda-style dungeon exploration and Persona-like social simulation. Players navigate dungeons by day and build friendships by night, taking on the role of Luisa, a relatable character dealing with burnout. Instead of a relaxing vacation, Luisa finds herself battling monsters, and the combat in Dungeons of Hinterberg is top-notch.

However, Dungeons of Hinterberg isn’t the only title leaving Xbox Game Pass. A list of all games that will no longer be available after July 15 includes notable titles like Golf With Your Friends and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

To counterbalance these departures, Xbox Game Pass is introducing a selection of new games. The addition of Gears of War: Reloaded to Game Pass Premium raises the question: will this be enough to boost the subscriber count toward that ambitious 77 million target? I remain skeptical. Here’s what’s being added in the first half of July:

It’s been a challenging period for Team Green.