2 New Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Games Confirmed for January 2026

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Xbox Game Pass is adding two new games soon, both of which will be available to play on the day they launch in January 2026. It’s been a great year for Game Pass, with many of its day-one releases receiving nominations at The Game Awards. While the service has been popular thanks to these new games, it has also received some criticism this year.

Fans were already disappointed to see some popular games removed from Xbox Game Pass in 2025, but the recent price increase caused even more frustration. The price of Game Pass Ultimate jumped from $19.99 to $29.99, and the reaction was so strong that it overloaded the website with cancellation requests. Microsoft is hoping to make up for the higher price by adding more games to the service over the next year, and they’re already planning content for 2026.

Okay, so looking ahead to January 2026 on Xbox Game Pass, we’ve got two titles confirmed right now, and the best part is they’ll both be available to play on day one! First up, on January 20th, I’m excited to check out MIO: Memories In Orbit, which is coming to both PC and Xbox Series X/S. Then, just a couple of days later on January 22nd, PC Game Pass subscribers will get early access to Nova Roma as part of the Xbox Game Preview Program. It’s cool to see them adding early access titles too – gives us a chance to play things as they’re still being developed.

List of Xbox Game Pass Games Confirmed for January 2026

  • MIO: Memories In Orbit (PC/Xbox Series X) – January 20
  • Nova Roma (PC) – January 22

MIO: Memories In Orbit is a sci-fi adventure game in the style of a Metroidvania, featuring a distinctive hand-drawn look. With the popularity of games like Hollow Knight: Silksong on Game Pass, Metroidvania games are currently very popular with subscribers. As one of the first new games launching in 2026, MIO: Memories In Orbit is expected to be a strong contender among the other Metroidvanias available on the service.

I recently got a look at Nova Roma, and it’s a really interesting take on the city-building genre. You’re tasked with, you guessed it, building Rome, but there’s a catch: you have to keep the gods happy too! Neglect building temples for someone like Zeus, and you might find yourself dealing with his wrath. The good news is, Nova Roma is hitting Game Pass on January 22nd in early access, and the developers plan to support and update it throughout 2026, so we’ll be seeing a lot more of this one.

More Xbox Game Pass Games With 2026 Release Dates

As a huge Game Pass fan, I’m keeping a close eye on what’s coming! Right now, MIO: Memories In Orbit and Nova Roma are the only confirmed games for January 2026, but I’m sure we’ll hear about more soon. Beyond that, we know a few other day-one releases are planned for 2026. Menace is dropping on February 5th, and High on Life 2 will be available on February 13th. But honestly, I’m most excited for Replaced – it’s been years in the making, and it’s finally hitting Game Pass on March 12th! I’ve been waiting so long to play it.

Xbox Game Pass in 2026 is shaping up to be incredible. In addition to games already announced, Xbox plans to release several major titles to mark its 25th anniversary. These include the remastered Halo, the newest Forza Horizon, a new Gears of War game called E-Day, and the highly anticipated reboot of Fable. If all goes well, 2026 promises to be a landmark year for both Game Pass and Xbox.

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2025-12-05 21:36