Xbox Game Pass July 2026 Wave 2 is the late-July lineup Microsoft announced for Game Pass. The headline additions are Shift at Midnight on July 22, Halo: Campaign Evolved on July 28, Mistfall Hunter on July 30, and Beast of Reincarnation on August 4.
The same update also lists eight games leaving the library on July 31, including Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, Rain World, and Sniper Elite Resistance.
Quick answer
The July 2026 Wave 2 update is mostly a planning list: it tells Game Pass members what is playable now, what arrives soon, which subscription plans are included for each game, and what to finish before July 31.
The important catch is that not every listed game is available on every Game Pass tier. Day-one games in this wave are mainly tied to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, while some older additions also support Game Pass Premium.
Confirmed at a glance
| Game | Date | Platforms listed by Xbox | Plans listed by Xbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Planet Crafter | July 21 | Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Shift at Midnight | July 22 | Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Hell is Us | July 23 | Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Halo: Campaign Evolved | July 28 | Cloud, console, handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Mistfall Hunter | July 30 | Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Corsair Cove | July 31 | PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Heretic + Hexen | August 4 | Cloud, console, handheld, PC | Premium, Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Beast of Reincarnation | August 4 | Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
Dates can still vary by region, store refresh time, and account status. If a game does not appear yet, check the Xbox app, the Xbox store page, and your active subscription tier before assuming there is an outage.
What is available now?
Microsoft lists The Planet Crafter as available from July 21 on cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass.
That is the safest first download if you are checking whether the Wave 2 update has reached your account. It is not proof that every later title is already live, because most of the lineup is scheduled across July 22 to August 4.
What is coming next?
The most time-sensitive new arrival is Shift at Midnight, which Xbox lists for July 22 on cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
The biggest late-July title is Halo: Campaign Evolved. Xbox lists the remake for July 28 through cloud, console, handheld, and PC, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass access. The official Halo page also says the game supports Xbox Play Anywhere, cross-play, and cross-progression across Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5.
Beast of Reincarnation follows on August 4. Xbox describes it as Game Freak’s one-person, one-dog action RPG and lists it for Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC, with day-one Game Pass access through Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Day-one games in this wave
Xbox explicitly labels these Wave 2 games as day-one Game Pass releases:
| Day-one game | Date | Why players are checking it |
|---|---|---|
| Shift at Midnight | July 22 | Co-op detective horror with doppelganger checks and survival phases. |
| Halo: Campaign Evolved | July 28 | Modernized Halo: Combat Evolved campaign with online co-op, new missions, and expanded equipment. |
| Mistfall Hunter | July 30 | Dark fantasy extraction ARPG with solo and team play. |
| Beast of Reincarnation | August 4 | Game Freak action RPG built around real-time combat and command strategy. |
Xbox’s own day-one Game Pass page says day-one games are included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Premium and Essential do not generally include day-one games, although Premium can receive some Xbox-published games later under Xbox’s current plan rules.
Games leaving on July 31
Xbox says these games are leaving the Game Pass library soon:
| Leaving July 31 | Platforms listed |
|---|---|
| Back to the Dawn | Cloud, console, PC |
| Celeste | Cloud, console, PC |
| Crusader Kings 3 | Cloud, console, PC |
| Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord | Cloud, console, PC |
| My Friendly Neighborhood | Cloud, console, PC |
| Rain World | Cloud, console, PC |
| Sniper Elite Resistance | Cloud, console, PC |
| Whiskerwood | PC |
If you are close to finishing one of these, prioritize it before starting the new wave. Game Pass discounts may appear for leaving games, but the library date is the safer deadline to plan around.
Why a game may not show up yet
Most “not showing” cases are timing or plan issues rather than a broken console. Check these first:
- Confirm the date for that specific game, not just the Wave 2 announcement date.
- Check whether the game is listed for Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass, or multiple plans.
- Restart the Xbox app or console store if the date has just changed in your region.
- Check the official Xbox status page if downloads, cloud gaming, or sign-in are failing across multiple games.
- Search the exact game page in the Xbox store instead of relying only on the Game Pass carousel.
For broader symptoms, our guide to checking whether a website or app is down explains how to separate local problems from service-wide issues.
What remains unknown
Microsoft’s announcement does not guarantee every future store detail, file size, achievement list, regional rollout time, cloud queue behavior, or discount price. It also does not mean a game stays in Game Pass permanently after joining.
For game-specific changes, use official patch notes or store pages rather than social posts. Our game patch notes guide explains what to check before relying on update claims.
Official sources
Microsoft’s Xbox Wire Wave 2 announcement lists the July and early-August additions, plan availability, platforms, benefits, and leaving games. The official Halo: Campaign Evolved page confirms its July 28 release date, Game Pass inclusion, Xbox Play Anywhere details, and supported platforms. The official Beast of Reincarnation page confirms its August 4 date, Game Pass availability, developer, genre, and platforms. Xbox’s day-one Game Pass page explains which plans include day-one games.
FAQ
What is Xbox Game Pass July 2026 Wave 2?
It is Microsoft’s late-July Game Pass lineup update, covering new arrivals from July 21 through August 4 and games leaving on July 31.
Is Halo: Campaign Evolved on Game Pass?
Yes. Xbox lists Halo: Campaign Evolved for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on July 28, 2026.
Is Beast of Reincarnation day one on Game Pass?
Yes. Xbox lists Beast of Reincarnation as a day-one Game Pass release for August 4, 2026 through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Is Shift at Midnight on Game Pass?
Yes. Xbox lists Shift at Midnight for July 22 on cloud, Xbox Series X/S, and PC through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Which games leave Game Pass on July 31?
The leaving list includes Back to the Dawn, Celeste, Crusader Kings 3, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, My Friendly Neighborhood, Rain World, Sniper Elite Resistance, and Whiskerwood.
Why is a new Game Pass game not showing for me?
Check the game’s specific date, your plan tier, your region’s store refresh time, and Xbox service status. A Wave 2 announcement does not make every listed game available immediately.