August brings an early Gears of War: E-Day test and another wave of Game Pass games
Xbox Game Pass has revealed its first August 2026 lineup, led by early access to the Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta and additions including PowerWash Simulator 2, Grounded 2, Ball x Pit, and MIO: Memories in Orbit.
Microsoft detailed the new wave on August 4, with releases and subscription additions spread across the first half of the month. The biggest immediate attraction is Gears of War: E-Day, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members receiving early access to its Open Beta beginning August 6.
We have already been following Gears of War: E-Day and its unusually early appearance inside the Xbox app. August finally gives subscribers something they can play.
Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Gameplay Trailer
Want more Xbox, PC, and Game Pass news?
Get gaming news, reviews, indie discoveries, interviews, and major updates from Fix Gaming Channel.
Join Our Newsletter
Stay updated with the games, demos, releases, and stories worth knowing about.
Gears of War: E-Day Leads the August Lineup
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can enter the Gears of War: E-Day Early Access Open Beta beginning August 6.
The test includes Horde Siege, a larger evolution of the series’ cooperative Horde formula. Three four-player squads fight across the same battlefield, giving the PvE mode room for 12 players while each squad handles its own missions and objectives.
The full game launches October 6, but the August beta gives Game Pass subscribers an early opportunity to try The Coalition‘s new multiplayer systems.
Xbox Game Pass Games for August 2026
The first August wave currently includes the following games and subscription additions:
- August 4: Heretic + Hexen — Cloud, console, handheld, and PC
- August 4: Beast of Reincarnation — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 6: Monsters are Coming! — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 6: PowerWash Simulator 2 — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
- August 11: Bounty Star — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
- August 11: Date Everything! — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 11: Grounded 2 — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 12: Ball x Pit — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 13: Cricket 26 — Cloud, console, and PC
- August 13: MIO: Memories in Orbit — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
- August 13: Sandustry — PC through Game Preview
- August 18: Egging On — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld, and PC
Not every entry is completely new to every Game Pass plan. Several titles are expanding into Game Pass Premium after appearing through other tiers, so subscribers should check the plan and platform attached to the game they want to play.
PowerWash Simulator 2 Gameplay Trailer
Grounded 2 and Ball x Pit Get Another Push
Grounded 2 joins the August 11 wave alongside Into the Abyss, which Xbox describes as the game’s largest update so far.
Ball x Pit follows on August 12. The brick-breaking survival roguelite combines ricocheting attacks and ball combinations with character recruitment, resource gathering, and base building.
August 13 is particularly busy. Cricket 26, atmospheric metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit, and the PC Game Preview release of Sandustry all arrive on the same day.
MIO: Memories in Orbit Launch Trailer
Madden NFL 27 Gets a 10-Hour Trial
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members with EA Play can try Madden NFL 27 for up to 10 hours beginning August 6.
Call of Duty: Warzone players also have access to Game Pass Pack 7, containing Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, a Finishing Move, cosmetic items, and a one-hour Double Weapon XP token.
Four Games Leave Game Pass on August 15
The additions come with another round of departures. These four games are scheduled to leave the service on August 15:
- Menace — PC
- Atlas Fallen — Cloud, console, and PC
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite — Cloud, console, and PC
- Firewatch — Cloud, console, and PC
That gives subscribers until August 15 to finish those games through Game Pass or decide whether they want to purchase them before they leave the library.
The complete August announcement, including subscription-tier availability, can be found in the official Xbox Wire announcement.
Related Reading
Why Is Xbox Asking for Pre-Installs 221 Days Early?
Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Still Not Available Everywhere
Why I’m Still All-In on Steam for PC — and Not Game Pass
Written by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Fix Gaming Channel.
Send interview pitches, corrections, tips, or developer stories to contact@fixgamingchannel.com.
Support independent games coverage on Ko-fi.
