The Xbox Game Pass in January 2026 kicks off at full speed with 11 exciting new releases that significantly enrich the offer for subscribers of the Ultimate, Premium, and PC plans. This month promises to be busy, mixing new exclusives, remasters, major franchises like Resident Evil, and the highly anticipated arrival of Star Wars Outlaws. At the start of the year, we notably find:
- Two “shadow drops” to surprise players as early as January 6 with Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition and Brews & Bastards.
- A diverse set of Premium titles from January 7 including survival-action, tactical, and sports games.
- The arrival of a 2D pixel remake of Final Fantasy for retro-gaming fans.
- The highly awaited release of Star Wars Outlaws on January 13 offering an open-world universe.
- A wave of simultaneous departures alongside new content, with five games leaving the catalog on January 15.
- The much-anticipated Resident Evil Village ending the month in style on January 20, accompanied by a demanding Metroidvania, MIO: Memories in Orbit.
This month, orchestrated by Microsoft, reveals a very segmented and balanced schedule that caters to all gaming desires, ranging from subtle terror to open worlds and quirky humor. We will explore here in detail each of these highlights, what to expect, their access depending on the subscription, and how to make the best of this batch of games marking this start of the year on Xbox.
- 1 Surprises from January 6: two “shadow drops” to shake up Xbox Game Pass
- 2 A diverse January 7 with four Premium titles for demanding fans
- 3 Pixelated nostalgia: First Final Fantasy in 2D remake arrives January 8
- 4 Star Wars Outlaws, the highly anticipated galactic open world on January 13
- 5 Contrasting departures and arrivals from January 15 to 20: an intense month on Xbox Game Pass
Surprises from January 6: two “shadow drops” to shake up Xbox Game Pass
From January 6, Microsoft energizes the Xbox Game Pass with two games that dropped without any warning, returning to the tradition of “shadow drops” that excite the community. These instant additions, available to all Ultimate, Premium, and PC subscribers, inject a good dose of adrenaline.
Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition offers a full 4K/60 fps remaster with ray tracing, optimized for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud. This cult independent horror game from 2017 retains its oppressive atmosphere while offering remarkable graphical finesse. Perfect for diving into visual and sensory nightmares, it appeals to both new players and nostalgic fans of the original version.
Brews & Bastards surprises with its humorous tone and crazy universe. This dungeon crawler puts drunken heroes at the center of its gameplay, resulting in an original and quirky experience. Available on Console, PC, and Cloud, this Xbox Game Pass exclusive offers a light and fresh style, ideal for relaxing moments with friends in cross-play.
This double announcement highlights Microsoft’s desire to combine technical surprises and eclectic playful proposals to satisfy a wide range of players, while bringing a bit of spontaneity back into the often predictable release rhythm on the service.
A diverse January 7 with four Premium titles for demanding fans
January 7 concentrates a dense offer in the Premium segment, with four games bringing significant variety in terms of genres and gameplay, designed to meet every desire of the moment.
Atomfall establishes itself as a post-apocalyptic survival-action game, playable on Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Its immersive narrative and tense atmosphere allow a dive into a hostile universe where survival becomes your obsession. The modern graphics and smooth gameplay maximize the experience.
Lost in Random: The Eternal Die
Rematch
Finally, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition
This day is therefore one of the busiest and most diverse of the month, allowing everyone, whether they prefer survival, tactics, competitive sports, or fast-paced action, to find their account.
A summary of the four Premium releases on January 7
| Game | Genre | Platforms | Particularity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomfall | Survival-action | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC, Xbox Series X|S | Immersive post-apocalyptic universe |
| Lost in Random: The Eternal Die | Tactical action | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Combination of strategy and dice |
| Rematch | Online football | PC, Xbox Series X|S | Fast-paced sports competition |
| Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition | Tactical FPS | PC, Xbox Series X|S, Cloud | Intense action in the Warhammer universe |
Pixelated nostalgia: First Final Fantasy in 2D remake arrives January 8
For lovers of retro and finely tuned video game mechanics, January 8 brings back a classic in a new light with a pixelated 2D remake of Final Fantasy, the original episode of this legendary franchise. Available on Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the title is accessible via all Game Pass plans.
This remake offers a revisited take that frees the player from a sometimes daunting complexity at its debut, while preserving the pure and timeless charm of this universe. It fits into a recent trend of back-to-basics gaming, where retro sensitivity widely appeals again. This choice marks a welcome breather in a selection that also includes blockbusters and experiences richer in content and complexity.
Gamers who enjoy slower-paced games with mastered mechanics will find in this pixelated Final Fantasy a worthy ally for their gaming evenings. It allows reconnecting with the fundamentals of Japanese RPGs while benefiting from improved visual and technical comfort.
Star Wars Outlaws, the highly anticipated galactic open world on January 13
The date January 13 marks the arrival of an Xbox Game Pass exclusive already capturing attention: Star Wars Outlaws. This open-world game is aimed at fans of the famous franchise but also those who want to immerse themselves in a rich and vast universe, offering deeply exploratory gameplay.
It stands out through cutting-edge technical proposals on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S (Ultimate and PC plans only), with intense narration and notable freedom of action. The title ranks among the major releases of the month and invites both discovery and gaming adrenaline.
This exclusive echoes Microsoft’s ambitions in gaming: to offer varied and immersive experiences, highlighting strong franchises that create genuine events for subscribers. Accessibility via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate suggests the service aims to attract by providing recent and premium AAA titles.
Some subscribers, however, regret the segmented access between plans, a point that sometimes causes frustration in the community. The important thing is to adjust one’s subscription according to expectations to fully enjoy this kind of new releases.
Contrasting departures and arrivals from January 15 to 20: an intense month on Xbox Game Pass
The middle of January is paced by a series of unusual arrivals and a significant list of departures, highlighting the cyclical nature of the Xbox Game Pass catalog and the importance of knowing how to organize oneself.
January 15 welcomes My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery, a cooperative 1-2 player mystery adventure game accessible on all platforms and plans including Ultimate, Premium, and PC. Its family-friendly universe brings a light breath to a month dominated by more somber or intense titles.
At the same time, five titles leave the service the same day, including some much-loved like Neon White or The Ascent. These departures encourage players to finalize their sessions on these games or keep them in memory. The schedule of releases and removals makes the experience lively, rendering the subscription dynamic and constantly renewed.
January 20 closes this first wave with the arrival of two strong titles. Resident Evil Village is a safe bet where mainstream horror reaches its peak, with a complete package on all major platforms and across all plans. Alongside it, MIO: Memories in Orbit offers a demanding Metroidvania adventure, perfect for aficionados seeking a big challenge in a narrower setting.
This combination at the end of the month once again shows Microsoft’s attention to balancing its offers, between blockbusters and more niche titles, in a constant quest for innovation and richness.
Synthetic table of major January 2026 Xbox Game Pass entries and exits
| Date | Games entering | Games leaving | Conditions and plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition, Brews & Bastards | – | Ultimate, Premium, PC |
| January 7 | Atomfall, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Rematch, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition | – | Mainly Premium |
| January 8 | Final Fantasy Remake 2D pixel | – | Ultimate, Premium, PC |
| January 13 | Star Wars Outlaws | – | Ultimate, PC |
| January 15 | My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery | Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Neon White, Road 96, The Ascent, The Grinch Christmas Adventures | Ultimate, Premium, PC |
| January 20 | Resident Evil Village, MIO: Memories in Orbit | – | Ultimate, Premium, PC |
This January 2026 on Xbox Game Pass strongly illustrates the dynamic of a subscription that continuously adjusts to provide diverse exclusives adapted to the different gaming communities. The choice of a service like this lies in its ability to offer both new experiences, revisited classics, and real events, as we have seen for Microsoft and its massive acquisition of Activision. This scenario makes the Game Pass essential for those following the vibrant world of video games.
For those who want to go further in their discoveries, the complementary 2026 calendar also offers unmissable events like the Amazon Gaming Week or the Paris Games Week, major moments that complete the immersive gaming experience.
