Valor Mortis, a first-person Soulslike from One More Level, launches October 13th at $40—cheaper than typical full-price games—because the developer acknowledges autumn's crowded release schedule and limited player spending. The publisher emphasized this pricing reflects confidence in the game's 20-hour story rather than a quality concern, positioning it as an accessible alternative to major competing releases.
Gears of War: E-Day has gone gold with pre-install beginning September 29. Early Access launches October 1 and the full game releases October 6 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Steam, available day one on Game Pass. The Coalition revealed final PC specifications and detailed the game's campaign, multiplayer modes, and Premium Edition content.
Microsoft responded to leaked plans showing potential Xbox Game Pass changes including removal of day-one game releases and introduction of ad-supported tiers starting spring 2025, though the company stated no final decisions have been made. The reported changes would offer subscriptions with and without ads at different price points, with cloud streaming and multiplayer as separate add-on costs.
Xbox Game Pass is receiving a major September lineup including Ninja Gaiden 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Dune: Awakening, though Microsoft has recently limited cloud gaming hours and may remove day-one releases by 2027. Eight games are leaving the service on September 30.
Xbox will showcase its Tokyo Game Show 2026 event on September 17th at 3am PDT / 6am EDT / 11am BST, featuring an exciting lineup of games, TGS-exclusive content, and updates from partners and creative teams across Asia and worldwide. The showcase is expected to last around 50 minutes and may include third-party announcements and Game Pass reveals.
Xbox denied rumors that Game Pass will drop day-one games starting in 2027, stating there are no finalized changes to announce. However, the company acknowledged it regularly tests different Game Pass offerings and is exploring changes, with sources suggesting future franchise removals from day-one access are possible.