Microsoft has revealed every game joining and leaving Xbox Game Pass from late July to early August 2023, with the addition of Celeste and removal of Marvel’s Avengers headlining the changes.
Announced on Xbox Wire, nine games will be added to the service by August 1. Toem, The Cave, and a Game Preview of Techtonica will be available on July 18, Maquette on July 19, Figment 2 and The Wandering Village on July 20, Serious Sam on July 25, Venba on July 31, and Celeste on August 1.
Check out the full list of games joining the service and their respective platforms below:
Toem (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 18The Cave (Cloud and Console) – July 18Techtonica Game Preview (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 18Maquette (Console and PC) – July 19Figment 2: Creed Valley (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 20The Wandering Village (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 20Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 25Venba (Console and PC) – July 31Celeste (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 1
The platforming adventure game Celeste is perhaps the biggest addition coming in this slate of games, as players take on the role of Madeline as she unravels the secret of a mysterious mountain and overcomes her own limitations.
IGN awarded Celeste a 10/10 in our review, saying: “Celeste’s incredible platforming, innumerable secrets, and emotionally genuine story make it a surprise triumph.”
Toem: A Photo Adventure, a hand-drawn adventure game centred around the delights of photography, is another highlight. Intended to be a relaxed and charming puzzler, it certainly appeared to accomplish that goal as IGN gave it an 8/10 in our review.
Five titles leave the service on July 31: Dreamscaper; Expeditions: Rome; The Ascent; Two Point Campus; and Marvel’s Avengers.
The last batch of games added to Xbox Game Pass included Need for Speed: Unbound, The Bookwalker, Bramble: The Mountain King, and more.
Microsoft announced a fundamental change to its subscription services earlier in July as Xbox Live Gold will cease to exist as of September. It will be replaced by Game Pass Core, which was described as an “evolution” of the previous service and gives players access to online console multiplayer alongside over 25 games.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.