Xbox Game Pass Its two lower tiers added five more titles, with the Essentials library gaining three games and the Premium catalog gaining two. While more titles are scheduled to reach Premium members later in December, today's update marks the likely final 2025 addition to the essential tier of Xbox Game Pass.
There are new premium titles Monster Train 2 and Spray paint simulatorIt has been part of PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate since the second half of May 2025. Monster Train 2 Started on May 21, with Spray paint simulator Eight days later. Both were added a day to the subscription service.
Monster Train 2 and Spray Paint Simulator arrive on Xbox Game Pass Premium after a 6-month delay
Xbox Game Pass Premium subscribers received Spray paint simulator and Monster Train 2 At midnight local time on December 3rd. The six-month delay between Ultimate- and Premium-tier releases typically points to a one-year license, meaning both of these titles could leave Xbox Game Pass in May or June 2026. The sample size is still small (there are no day-one games in the standard/premium tier), but most of the September 20-20 releases are just days away. To move down a level in case of not wanting to remain in service for more than one year (more).
3 more titles are now available on Xbox Game Pass required
The December 3 catalog update also saw three new titles requiring Xbox Game Pass gain: Stellaris, World War Z: The Aftermathand Medieval Dynasty. Unlike the premium-tier additions, these games are unlikely to leave Microsoft's subscription service in the near future. Since Xbox Game Pass Core replaced Xbox Live Gold in September 2023, the $9.99-per-month tier—renamed XGP Essential in October—has only gotten new games without removing any. Microsoft has stated that the Essentials library will not be permanent, with titles added to this entry-level tier typically expected to remain in service for longer than a year.
Following today's update, the list of 2025 additions to Xbox Game Pass Essentials now totals 10 titles. Batman: Arkham Knight, Monster Sanctuaryand TunicJune joined the tier at the end of March. No further additions to the essential-level catalog are expected before spring 2026.
All games added to Xbox Game Pass Core/Essential in 2025
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Batman: Arkham Knight (March 26)
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Demon Sanctuary (March 26)
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Tunic (March 26)
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Cities: Skylines – Remastered (October 1)
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Disney Dreamlight Valley (October 1)
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Patal (October 1)
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Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (October 1)
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Medieval Dynasty (December 3)
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Stellaris (December 3)
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World War Z: The Aftermath (December 3)
What's next for Xbox Game Pass?
Eight more titles are confirmed to come to at least one tier of Microsoft's subscription service before the end of the month. The December 2025 lineup includes six Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, from routine From December 4th Mortal Kombat 1 On December 10th. The remaining two premium-tier additions are: 33 Immortal and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Xbox Game Pass Release Calendar (officially confirmed dates only)
|
the date |
the game |
Game Pass Tier(s) |
Platform(s) |
notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
December 3 |
Monster Train 2 |
premium |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Available from May 2025 on XGP Ultimate and PC GP. |
|
December 3 |
Spray paint simulator |
premium |
Cloud, Console, PC |
Available from May 2025 on XGP Ultimate and PC GP. |
|
December 3 |
Stellaris |
urgent |
Cloud, Console, PC |
XGP Ultimate is available from August 2019, PC GP from October 2019, XGP Standard (now Premium) from September 2024. |
|
December 3 |
World War Z: The Aftermath |
urgent |
Cloud, Console, PC |
Available on XGP Ultimate and PC GP from December 2023, XGP Standard (now Premium) from September 2024. |
|
December 3 |
Medieval Dynasty |
urgent |
Cloud, Handheld, PC, Series X/S |
Available on PC GP from June 2021, XGP Ultimate from October 2022, XGP Standard (now Premium) from September 2024. |
|
December 4 |
routine |
Param, PC |
Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
First day release. |
|
December 4 |
33 Immortal |
premium |
Cloud, Console, PC |
Available from March 2025 on XGP Ultimate and PC GP. |
|
December 4 |
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle |
premium |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Available from December 2025 on XGP Ultimate and PC GP. |
|
December 9 |
Dome Keeper |
Param, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
First Day (Series X/S) Release. |
|
December 9 |
A game about digging holes |
Param, PC |
Cloud, Handheld, PC, Series X/S |
First Day (Series X/S) Release. |
|
December 9 |
Scream of death |
Param, PC |
Handheld, PC |
First day release. |
|
December 10 |
Mortal Kombat 1 |
Ultimate, PC, Premium |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
|
|
December 11 |
Bratz: rhythm and style |
Ultimate, PC, Premium |
Cloud, Console, PC |
|
|
February 5 |
danger |
Param, PC |
pc |
game preview; One day release. |
|
February 13 |
High in life 2 |
Param, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
First day release. |
Microsoft's latest roster announcement suggests Xbox Game Pass may not have a Wave 2 lineup for December 2025. A similar pattern emerged last year too, although the official December 2024 lineup announcement was extended into January, which is not the case this time around. As a result, predicting the next major date for service is more difficult than usual. In a typical month, Wave 2 would be expected around December 16, i.e. the third Tuesday of the month. But with no such update expected, the next Xbox Game Pass lineup announcement could come as late as early January 2026.
