Xbox Game Pass New Games April 2021: What’s coming, leaving soon

Xbox Game Pass is the ever-expanding Netflix-like gaming subscription from Microsoft, the makers of Xbox. For a monthly subscription, Xbox Game Pass partakers gain access to a constantly-rotating catalog of hundreds of high-quality Xbox games. The best Xbox Game Pass games include third-party multiplayer games, older AAA titles, indie projects, all first-party Microsoft games, and pretty much everything in between.

Xbox Game Pass is also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, an all-in-one subscription that gives players full access to Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles, Xbox Game Pass on PC, Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Project xCloud), and even EA Play. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate represents one of the best values in gaming, and that value only increases from month-to-month.

That’s because Xbox Game Pass is always adding new games, with announcements once or twice a month. While games occasionally leave the service, the number of games available through Xbox Game Pass has been steadily growing since its launch. In this Xbox Game Pass guide, we’ll go over all the new games coming to the service, the games about to leave, and the top games you should be keeping an eye on.

You’ll rarely go wrong with the diverse selection of games on Xbox Game Pass, but there are always a handful that stand above the rest — including but not limited to exceptional indie games, addictive multiplayer games, expansive AAA games, and Microsoft’s first-party games. These are the best new games that have recently arrived on Xbox Game Pass.

MLB The Show 21

Available April 20 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

For the first time ever, the historically PlayStation-exclusive series MLB The Show will launch on Xbox consoles, and is included in Xbox Game Pass at launch. MLB The Show 21 is a next-gen baseball sports game that fills the baseball-shaped hole in Xbox’s games lineup. Starting now, you can play MLB The Show 21 on your Xbox console or even on your mobile device when you’re on the go.

Grand Theft Auto V

Available April 8 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Grand Theft Auto V is a known quantity at this point, and is widely considered to be one of the better games every released. Now, Grand Theft Auto V has returned to Xbox Game Pass. This time around, you can even play it on your phone through Xbox Cloud Gaming! Jump back in and cause some mayhem in GTAV.

Outriders

Available April 1 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Outriders is the latest looter shooter to hit the scenes and draws inspiration from established titles like Destiny 2 and the Division 2. Besides some launch-period server issues and a bit of a slow start, Outriders looks to be an excellent addition to the genre and is a fantastic game to spin up with friends. Just getting started? Be sure to take advantage of our ultimate beginner’s guide to Outriders.

Xbox Game Pass new games: Full list and schedule

It can be easy to lose track of all the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass, so we’ve compiled the full list for your convenience. In this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide, learn what games have been released on Xbox Game Pass recently, when they became available, and what platforms on which they’re available.

Available April 20

• MLB The Show 21 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Available April 15

• Rain on Your Parade (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Pathway (PC)

Available April 12

• NHL 21 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & EA Play)

Available April 8

• Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC)
• Disneyland Adventures (Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Rush: A Disney / Pixar Adventure (Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Available April 1

• Outriders (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

What’s coming to Xbox Game Pass soon

Microsoft loves to give Xbox Game Pass subscribers plenty of time to prepare for upcoming additions by announcing them early. This section of our Xbox Game Pass will help you keep track of all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass shortly, so you can decide what you want to play and if you need to free up some space.

Available April 22

Available April 28

• Second Extinction (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Available April 29

• Destroy All Humans! (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Available April 30

• Fable Anniversary (Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Fable III (Xbox Cloud Gaming)

What’s leaving Xbox Game Pass soon

For the most part, more games join Xbox Game Pass than leave. However, most games do leave the service eventually, so Microsoft likes to give players a heads up if they hadn’t gotten around to playing that game yet. Keep an eye on this section of our Xbox Game Pass guide for games you still want to play. If you see a game you’ve played and loved, be sure to purchase it with your Xbox Game Pass discount so you can keep it forever.

Leaving April 30

• Endless Legend (PC)
• For the King (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Fractured Minds (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Levelhead (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Moving Out (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
• Thumper (PC)

Upcoming games launching on Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft gives us an update on games heading to Xbox Game Pass a few weeks before those games become available, typically. However, first-party Xbox Game Studios and a whole suite of indie developers announced at the March ID@Xbox event that they are preparing games that have been confirmed to launch into Xbox Game Pass day and date. That means day one access to these games for all Xbox Game Pass subscribers, including to some of the best upcoming games for Xbox.

Many of these games are far enough out that they don’t even have a release date, and we’re not certain exactly which platforms they’ll come to through Xbox Game Pass. Still, this list in our Xbox Game Pass guide will give you an idea of what to look out for in the future of Xbox Game Pass. We’ll constantly update this list as we get new information about release dates, when games become available, and what platforms are getting them.

ID@Xbox Games Showcase – March 26, 2021

• Art of the Rally (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• Astria Ascending (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – 2021
• Among Us (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – 2021
• Backbone (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• Boyfriend Dungeon (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – Unknown release date
• Craftopia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – Unknown release date
• Dead Static Drive (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – Unknown release date
• Edge of Eternity (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – 2021
• Hello Neighbor 2 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• Library of Ruina (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• Little Witch in the Woods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• Moonglow Bay (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) – 2021
• Nobody Saves the World (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – 2021
• Omno (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Summer 2021
• Recompile (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) – 2021
• Sable (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – Unknown release date
• Second Extinction (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Xbox One) – April 28, 2021
• She Dreams Elsewhere (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC) – Unknown release date
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – 2021
• The Ascent (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) – 2021
• Undungeon (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, & PC) – Unknown release date
• Way to the Woods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) – Unknown release date
• The Wild at Heart (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) – May 20, 2021

Xbox Game Studios & Bethesda Softworks

• Halo Infinite (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) – Fall 2021
• Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) – Summer 2021
• Psychonauts 2 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, & PC) – 2021
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date
• Avowed (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date
• State of Decay 3 (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date
• Fable (Xbox Series X|S Optimized & PC) – Unknown release date
• Everwild (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date
• Forza Motorsport (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date
• Perfect Dark (Xbox Series X|S Optimized) – Unknown release date

Xbox Game Pass adds new games all the time, but there’s already a vast selection of high-quality titles available for gamers to play. Check out our list of best games on Xbox Game Pass for some fantastic ideas on what you should play next.