Gears of War: E-Day is the first mainline entry in the popular sci-fi shooter series since the release of Gears 5 almost seven years ago. While the game won’t be released until Oct. 6, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can get early access to the game’s open beta two months early, on Thursday, Aug. 6.
Xbox Game Pass, a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick, offers a wide selection of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for as little as $10 a month. And with a subscription to the higher-tiered Game Pass Ultimate ($23 a month), you can access hundreds of games, including new ones the day they’re released, each month.
Here are all the games Xbox is bringing to Game Pass in August.
Gears of War: E-Day open beta early access
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Aug. 6.
Grab your lancer and get ready to crush some grubs in the latest entry in the Gears of War franchise before the game’s October release. In the early access open beta, you’ll be able to play the new Horde Siege player-versus-environment game mode. This is a new take on Gears’ Horde mode that’s built for larger maps, more players and bigger battles.
Date Everything!
Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on Aug. 11.
Dating simulator games can be fun, but they might feel limiting in some aspects. Yeah, you might love your bed, but does your bed share those same feelings for you? This game lets you explore that idea to its logical conclusion by letting you date almost everything in your home. Bed? Absolutely. Door? You bet. The overwhelming sense of existential dread? If that’s your bag, go for it! There are over a hundred items, each with a unique voice actor, that you can date in this game, so have fun!
Ball x Pit
New to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 12. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
This game combines classic brick-breaking gameplay with the base-building, survival and roguelite genres to create something wholly unique. You’ll explore a bottomless pit of monsters on the hunt for treasure, armed with nothing but ricocheting balls. You’ll recruit fellow treasure hunters, tackle huge monsters and upgrade your arsenal as you plunge deeper underground.
Other games coming to Xbox Game Pass
Those are some of the games Microsoft is bringing to Xbox Game Pass soon, but the company is adding more to the service this month. Here are the other games you can try soon.
- Monsters are Coming! Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 6. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Powerwash Simulator 2: Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 6. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Bounty Star: Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 11. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Grounded 2 (game preview): Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 11. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Cricket 26: Coming to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass on Aug. 13.
- Mio: Memories in Orbit: Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 13. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- Sandustry: Coming to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Aug. 13.
- Egging On: Coming to Game Pass Premium on Aug. 13. Previously on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Games leaving Game Pass on Aug. 15
While Microsoft is adding titles to Game Pass soon, it’s also removing a handful of games from the service on Aug. 15. So you still have some time to play these games for the first time, or finish your campaign, before you have to buy them separately.
For more on Xbox, learn what other titles you can play, plus read our Xbox Game Pass review and discover which Game Pass plan is right for you.