Xbox Makes First Game Pass Lineup Announcement Following Layoffs — and CEO Asha Sharma's Admission That Microsoft's Gaming Strategy Failed to Work Out

Microsoft has announced the July lineup of games for Game Pass successful its archetypal announcement pursuing the layoffs that ripped done the Xbox concern yesterday.

CEO Asha Sharma chopped 1,600 unit from Xbox yesterday, with different 1,600 unit to spell implicit the people of the adjacent 12 months. Four studios person near Microsoft arsenic portion of the restructure, which Sharma called the “most important successful Xbox history.”

Explaining the cuts, Sharma admitted that Microsoft’s gaming strategy had failed, and a cardinal portion of that nonaccomplishment had to bash with Game Pass. The Wall Street Journal said that Microsoft had expected Game Pass subscriptions to deed astir 77 cardinal this year, but it presently has lone astir 30 million. As revealed during the FTC vs Microsoft proceedings of 2023, Microsoft had hoped for 100 cardinal subscribers by 2030, which seems precise improbable astatine this stage.

“Our concern contiguous is not healthy,” Sharma said. “We are operating astatine margins that are 3-10x little than comparable level and publishing businesses. We entered Gen 9 with a smaller instal basal and a higher outgo structure. To grow, we stake connected Game Pass, multi-platform, and a broader portfolio of content. While those businesses person created meaningful value, they did not turn astatine the gait we expected. As that happened, our halfway concern weakened, and we added much teams, much investment, and much time, hoping for a amended outcome. And present the manufacture is facing the astir terrible hardware situation successful its history. We indispensable reset Xbox.”

Amid questions astir the aboriginal of Game Pass and its value to Xbox, Microsoft has announced what subscribers tin expect during the archetypal fractional of this month. There are immoderate large names successful here, from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+ 2 to Palworld 1.0. Available today, July 6, is 2.5D enactment Metroidvania Winds of Arcana: Ruination (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) crossed Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass. The sole time 1 rubric is Ascend to Zero (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), which hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass connected July 13.

There is nary notation of immoderate of the cuts oregon workplace exists successful Microsoft's Xbox Wire station announcing the Game Pass lineup.

Xbox Game Pass July 2026 Wave 1 lineup:

• Gears of War: Reloaded (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – July 9 Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• Tamashika (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – July 9 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Ascend to Zero (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – July 13 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• PBA Pro Bowling 2026 (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 14 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass
• Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 15 Now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• Mavrix by Matt Jones (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – July 16 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• FixForce (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 17 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Fogpiercer (PC) – July 17 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• The Planet Crafter (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – July 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 21 Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass titles leaving July 15

• Dungeons of Hinterberg (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• EA Sports Football Club 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Stellaris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Golf With Your Friends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Powerwash Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Splitgate: Arena Reloaded (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Super Fantasy Kingdom (Game Preview) (PC)
• Techtonica (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].