By Jacob Miller | Jul 20, 2026
The provisional list of departures surfaced from the Xbox app's Leaving Soon section, which was updated on July 19. Microsoft is expected to formally confirm these removals in the coming days, most likely on July 21 alongside the announcement of the next wave of incoming titles. The provisional list should be treated as indicative rather than final, as it has occasionally differed slightly from what Microsoft officially announces. Still, the pattern is consistent enough that July 31 departures should be treated as likely.
What Is Leaving and Why It Matters
Crusader Kings 3, Paradox Interactive's sprawling medieval grand strategy game, holds an average OpenCritic score that puts it in the 99th percentile of all titles on the platform. Celeste, the beloved precision platformer from Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry, sits at a 92 average and lands in the 100th percentile. The two games could not be more different in genre or style, which is precisely what makes their simultaneous departure so significant. Crusader Kings 3 offers hundreds of hours of deep, complex political and dynastic strategy. Celeste delivers a tight, emotionally resonant platforming experience that can be completed in a fraction of that time. Together they cover very different parts of what makes Xbox Game Pass's critical catalogue appealing, and losing both at once leaves a visible gap.
The remaining five titles confirmed to be leaving on July 31 are Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, Rain World, Sniper Elite: Resistance, Back to the Dawn, and My Friendly Neighborhood. The last two have an unusual history in this particular departure cycle. Both Back to the Dawn and My Friendly Neighborhood were previously listed as leaving Xbox Game Pass on July 15, only to quietly disappear from the Leaving Soon section without actually departing. That kind of double-listing error is rare in how Microsoft manages these communications, making their reappearance for July 31 noteworthy. Subscribers who have been waiting on either title would be wise to treat July 31 as their genuine last opportunity to play them through the subscription.
What Is Coming to Replace Them
While the departures are noteworthy, the second wave of July additions is already beginning to take shape. Cooperative detective horror game Shift at Midnight is confirmed for July 22 after several delays pushed the title back from earlier in the year. Halo: Campaign Evolved follows on July 28, a significant first-party addition that has been one of the more anticipated upcoming additions to the service. Before both of those, cozy co-op terraforming game The Planet Crafter is joining the catalogue on July 21. The full Wave 2 lineup for July has not yet been officially announced, but Microsoft is expected to reveal the complete list of upcoming additions on July 21 alongside the formal confirmation of the July 31 departures. Subscribers looking to get the most out of Crusader Kings 3 and Celeste before they go have a limited window remaining to do so.
