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August 2024

Xbox Game Pass August 2024: New Games, Day One Launches, Leaving Soon

Last Updated: November 12, 2025

Xbox Game Pass August 2024 new games and leaving titles.

Xbox Game Pass is delivering another powerhouse month in August 2024, reinforcing its status as an essential service for gamers. This month’s lineup features a vibrant day-one ecological adventure, the return of beloved classics, and intriguing new indies. Whether you play on Console, PC, or Cloud, there’s a diverse wave of titles joining the expansive library.

Here's a complete breakdown of every game coming to Xbox Game Pass in August 2024, plus the titles you need to play before they depart.

Day One Spotlight: Creatures of Ava & Sleight of Hand

Headlining the month is Creatures of Ava, a captivating action-adventure that launched directly into Game Pass on August 7. This significant day-one release invites players to explore a vibrant alien world teeming with unique lifeforms.

In Creatures of Ava, your mission is to understand and save the planet's diverse wildlife from a mysterious, life-threatening infection. The gameplay focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, and a unique non-lethal combat system centered on healing creatures rather than harming them. Its emphasis on conservation and empathy offers a refreshing and meaningful narrative for players seeking a different kind of adventure.

Later in the month, subscribers can look forward to another day-one launch with Sleight of Hand on August 29. This is a third-person stealth action game with a unique twist: deck-building. As a former private detective, you'll use a deck of magic-infused cards to execute stealth takedowns, create diversions, and navigate a noir world of intrigue.

New Games Coming to Xbox Game Pass in August 2024

The full wave of August additions offers something for every type of player, from digging for treasure to exploring narrative-driven sci-fi.

Available Now:

  • SteamWorld Dig (Cloud and Console): Delve into a platform mining adventure full of secrets, treasure, and terrors. Dig your way through the old earth, gaining riches and upgrading your gear to explore deeper.
  • SteamWorld Dig 2 (Console and PC): A direct sequel that expands on the original in every way, offering a vast world of colorful characters, hidden secrets, and formidable enemies.
  • Tomba! Special Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC): The wild, pink-haired hero returns in this remastered version of the beloved PlayStation classic. Jump, bite, and throw your way through a vibrant 2.5D world to defeat evil pigs.

Coming Soon:

  • Return to Grace (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 13: Embark on a 1960s-era sci-fi adventure to uncover the secrets of a dormant AI god named Grace in this choice-driven narrative experience.
  • Secret of the Deep (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 15: Dive into a haunting underwater adventure where you play as a submarine navigating the deep sea to find its lost pilot.
  • Age of Mythology: Retold (PC) – September 4: While technically a September release, this highly anticipated strategy game is already on the horizon, promising a fully modernized experience for fans of the classic RTS.
  • Sleight of Hand (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 29: Prepare for a unique blend of stealth and card-based abilities in this noir-themed day-one launch.

Don't Miss Out: Games Leaving Game Pass in August 2024

To make room for the new arrivals, several excellent titles will be leaving the service this month. Be sure to finish these games or give them a try before they’re gone.

Leaving August 15:

  • Death Stranding (PC)
  • Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Train Sim World 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Midnight Fight Express (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Leaving August 31:

  • Opus: Echo of Starsong - Full Bloom Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Commandos 3 - HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Immortality (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Tinykin (Cloud, Console, and PC)

The Game Pass Advantage: Why Day One Still Matters

The inclusion of titles like Creatures of Ava and Sleight of Hand on day one remains the cornerstone of the Xbox Game Pass value proposition. For subscribers, it provides immediate access to brand-new games without the $60-$70 price tag, encouraging discovery and broadening gaming horizons. Players can jump into innovative indie experiences they might have otherwise overlooked.

For developers, a day-one Game Pass launch guarantees a massive, built-in audience from the moment of release. This instant player base provides invaluable visibility, fosters community engagement, and can be a crucial factor in a new game's long-term success. This symbiotic relationship is key to the service's ability to consistently attract a wide array of quality titles.

While new additions are the highlight, the enduring appeal of Game Pass lies in its vast and ever-evolving library. Subscribers have access to hundreds of games, from first-party blockbusters and EA Play titles to a curated collection of critically acclaimed indies, ensuring there is always something new to play.

Frequently Asked Questions About Xbox Game Pass

Q: What is Xbox Game Pass?
A: Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service from Microsoft that provides access to a large, rotating catalog of games for a single monthly fee. It is available for Xbox consoles, Windows PC, and cloud streaming.

Q: What are the different tiers of Xbox Game Pass?
A: The main tiers are Game Pass Core (which replaced Xbox Live Gold and offers online multiplayer and a small catalog of games), Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate. Ultimate is the all-in-one tier, combining console and PC games, online multiplayer, EA Play, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Q: Are new games added to Game Pass every month?
A: Yes, Microsoft adds new games to the Game Pass library in two or more waves each month. At the same time, a selection of older titles is removed to make way for new additions.

Q: Can I play Game Pass games on multiple devices?
A: With Game Pass Ultimate, you can play games on your Xbox console, a Windows PC, and stream select titles via Cloud Gaming to compatible phones, tablets, smart TVs, and web browsers.

Q: Do I own the games I download from Game Pass?
A: No, you are essentially licensing the games. Your access is contingent on your subscription remaining active and the game being available in the Game Pass library. However, subscribers can purchase any game in the catalog at a discount to own it permanently.