Microsoft has made its first announcement on the Xbox Game lineup since its controversial decision to raise the final subscription price.
Last week, Microsoft caused a backlash with its Decision to augment the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate From $19.99 per month to $29.99 per month (50% augment which is an additional $120 per year).
To justify the price augment, Microsoft raised the number of first-day releases per year to 75 and added Fortnite and Ubisoft+ Classics crew for the first time. There were also updates to Xbox Cloud game streaming quality.
Microsoft insisted that the up-to-date $30-per-month price reflects an “expanded catalog, new partner benefits and an updated cloud experience.”
But that didn’t stop fans from reassessing whether the Penalty Game remained right for them. IGN’s poll on this issue, which currently has over 42,000 voters, shows that 53.9% of our audience does not subscribe to Game Pass at all. 19.8% said they were looking for the ultimate despite price increases.
Despite this, Microsoft opted to announce the game lineup for October 2025 Wirey Xbox.
There are some substantial front-page hitters here, including Keeper Double Fine, and Xbox Game Studios published Ninja Gaiden 4. There’s also Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions on PC, and the one-day release of Ball X Pit.
Xbox Game Pass Wave October 1, 2025 Line-up:
- October 8: Supermarket simulator (cloud, console and computer) Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 9: Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (PC) Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 14: Casting of Frank Stone (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X | S) Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 15: Ball X Pit (Cloud, Console and PC) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
- October 15: Grinch: Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console and PC) Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 15: Eternal Strands (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X | S) now with Game Pass Premium
- October 15: It’s coming (Game Preview) (PC) now with Game Pass Premium
- October 15: Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X | S) now with Game Pass Premium
- October 16: PAX DEI (PC) Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 17: Keeper (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X | S) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
- October 21: Pass Game Evil West (Cloud, Console and PC) Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
- October 21: Ninja Gaiden 4 (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X | S) Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Meanwhile, leaving Game Pass in October are Cocoon, Core Keeper, and teenage mutant Mutant Ninja Turtles Unleashed.
Leaving your Xbox Game card on October 15, 2025:
The following games are leaving the game library soon. You can save up to 20% off your purchase.
- Cocoon (cloud, console and desktop)
- Core Keeper (Cloud, Console and PC)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console and PC)
The updated pricing went into effect on October 1 for up-to-date subscribers and was scheduled to begin on November 4 for all existing subscribers. But Microsoft has confirmed that it has delayed the final price augment in some countries such as Ireland and South Korea. Unfortunately for US and UK subscribers, this doesn’t apply to them.
This week, Microsoft confirmed that it has also scrapped the Xbox Game Card discount on DLC purchasesGive subscribers more points to apply in your rewards scheme. This change didn’t go down either.
The cost of being an Xbox fan has been a warm topic in recent months. After announcing a jump to $80 for its games this holiday season, Microsoft retroactively to stick to $70 for the likes of The Outer Worlds 2. And just last month Microsoft has raised the price of Xbox consoles in the US “Due to changes in the macroeconomic environment.”
Microsoft similarly raised eyebrows when He confirmed a price of $999.99 for the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X Handheld and $599.99 for the Rog Xbox Ally.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @WYP100. You can reach Wesley at Wesley_Yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at WYP100@proton.me.
