For fans of video games, August 2025 is shaping up to be a month to remember—especially for those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Microsoft’s all-you-can-play service is rolling out a slew of new titles, bringing back some fan favorites, and keeping must-play hits in its ever-evolving catalog. With a subscription that costs $20 per month, players get access to hundreds of games across Xbox consoles, PC, and even mobile devices, with perks like online multiplayer and exclusive deals sweetening the pot. But what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s about to leave? Let’s dive into the details.
One of the biggest draws this month is Deathloop, a critically acclaimed first-person shooter from Arkane Lyon. As of August 13, 2025, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play this 2021 Game of the Year contender without any extra cost. According to Screen Rant, Deathloop was described as a "stylish and gorgeous FPS," praised for its gameplay loop and narrative. The game holds an impressive 88 Metascore on Metacritic, a testament to its widespread acclaim. Even though it didn’t clinch the ultimate Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2021, it did snag wins for Best Game Direction and Best Art Direction—no small feat considering the stiff competition from titles like Metroid Dread, Psychonauts 2, and the eventual winner, It Takes Two.
What makes Deathloop’s presence on Game Pass even more notable is its journey to Xbox. The title was originally released as a PlayStation console-exclusive, even after Microsoft acquired Arkane’s parent company. Only a year later did it arrive for Xbox Series X/S, and it was added to the Game Pass catalog immediately. Since then, it’s been available for consoles, PC, and cloud gaming through the service. Given its status as a first-party game, it’s unlikely to disappear from Game Pass anytime soon—a relief for anyone who’s been meaning to check it off their backlog.
But Deathloop isn’t the only blockbuster available. Xbox Game Pass continues to offer a robust lineup that caters to just about every taste. Love RPGs? You’re covered with titles like Sea of Stars and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Prefer shooters, platformers, simulators, or racing games? The catalog has you sorted there too. And with the service’s rolling additions and removals, there’s always something fresh to discover—or a ticking clock on something you’ve been meaning to play.
Speaking of fresh, August 2025 brings a new wave of games to the platform. According to CNET, Microsoft is adding several highly anticipated titles this month. Among them is Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, the 2023 entry in Ubisoft’s blockbuster franchise. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can now travel back in time to 9th century Baghdad, stepping into the shoes of Basim, a street thief turned master assassin. Ubisoft revealed in 2023 that the Assassin’s Creed series has sold over 155 million copies, making it one of gaming’s best-selling franchises. With Mirage available on Game Pass, even more players can experience the latest chapter in this storied saga.
But the new arrivals don’t stop there. Doom: The Dark Ages is among the fresh faces joining the lineup, promising more demon-slaying action for fans of the franchise. Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector makes its debut as a day-one addition, inviting players to navigate a dice-driven sci-fi world as a sleeper—an emulated human mind in an artificial body—on the run from both corporations and criminal gangs. Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders offers a chilly, multiplayer twist on the downhill biking formula, letting up to eight players race across snowy terrain. And if giant robots are more your speed, MechWarrior 5: Clans is now available to Game Pass Standard subscribers, letting you command a squad of mech pilots in galactic battles.
That’s not all. Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap brings the chaos of tower defense back to Game Pass, this time with four-player co-op for anyone who wants to take on waves of cartoonish orcs with friends. And on August 14, 9 Kings arrives, blending kingdom building, deck building, and roguelike mechanics into a single, ambitious package. Players will battle for supremacy, using everything from knights and warlocks to sentient mushrooms in their quest to become the King of Kings.
Microsoft’s approach to Game Pass is a balancing act: as new games arrive, some must leave. On August 15, a handful of titles will be removed from the service, giving subscribers a short window to finish any lingering campaigns or sidequests before those games must be purchased separately. This constant churn keeps the library feeling fresh, but it also means players need to keep an eye on what’s coming and going.
The value proposition of Xbox Game Pass remains a hot topic in the gaming world. For $20 a month, subscribers get access to a massive, rotating library of games, including many new releases on day one. The service also includes online multiplayer, discounts on games not in the catalog, and access across platforms. As CNET points out, Game Pass Ultimate was recently awarded the Editors Choice award, cementing its reputation as one of the best deals in gaming today.
Of course, not every game stays forever, and the monthly price tag isn’t trivial for everyone. But for many, the sheer breadth of content—ranging from indie gems to AAA blockbusters—makes it a no-brainer. Whether you’re looking to revisit a 2021 Game of the Year contender like Deathloop, immerse yourself in the streets of ancient Baghdad with Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, or try out something entirely new, Game Pass offers an ever-changing buffet of options.
In a landscape where the cost of individual games continues to rise, and where players crave both variety and value, Microsoft’s Game Pass stands out as a model for the future of gaming. With August’s lineup, the service isn’t just keeping pace—it’s setting the tempo.
