Microsoft has issued its first official Xbox Game Pass announcement of 2026, confirming a full Wave 1 lineup for January that combines quiet releases, previously rumored additions, and several high-profile titles scheduled through January 20. The announcement formalizes what subscribers had already begun to notice earlier this week, when two games appeared on the service without advance notice, and frames them as part of a broader, structured rollout.
The January update reinforces Microsoft’s steady approach to Xbox Game Pass, mixing catalog expansions with selective day-one launches and staggered access across Ultimate, Premium, and PC tiers. In total, 11 games have been confirmed for the first half of the month, with Microsoft explicitly labeling this lineup as Wave 1, suggesting additional titles will follow later in January.
Available immediately as of January 6 are two titles that arrived without pre-announcement: Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition and Brews & Bastards. Little Nightmares: Enhanced Edition updates the 2017 horror platformer with modern performance improvements, including higher resolutions and smoother frame rates on supported hardware. Brews & Bastards, by contrast, is a smaller-scale twin-stick action game designed around short sessions and replayable runs, aligning with the kind of experimental discovery Game Pass often enables.
January 7 marks the first major content drop of the month, particularly for Game Pass Premium subscribers. That day adds Atomfall, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, Rematch, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition. Collectively, these releases lean toward action-focused experiences, offering variety rather than a single headline draw.
The following day, January 8, sees the arrival of Final Fantasy, a remodeled 2D version of the original role-playing game, available across Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass. Its inclusion adds a legacy franchise presence to the lineup without relying on a modern remake.
Attention then shifts to mid-month releases. On January 13, Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws joins the service for Ultimate and PC subscribers, representing one of the most prominent additions of the month. January 15 follows with My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery, a lighter release aimed at younger players and families.
January 20 closes out Wave 1 with two additions. Resident Evil Village arrives across all major Game Pass tiers, timed closely ahead of Capcom’s next major Resident Evil release. On the same day, MIO: Memories in Orbit launches as the only confirmed day-one Game Pass release of the month.
As usual, January also brings scheduled departures. Leaving the service on January 15 are Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Neon White, Road 96, The Ascent, and The Grinch Christmas Adventures, all of which will remain purchasable at a discount for subscribers prior to removal.
