In a surprising move, the game Descenders Next has been quietly added to the library of games available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. This brings the total number of new titles on the service in July 2025 to 13, and marks the 91st release for Xbox Game Pass since the start of the year.
Originating from the Dutch studio RageSquid, the game titled “Descenders Next” serves as a follow-up to the 2019 downhill mountain biking game “Descenders“. The sequel offers not one but two extreme sports: snowboarding and mountainboarding. Initially scheduled for release on April 9, “Descenders Next” experienced an unexpected delay, leaving its launch date undetermined at the moment.
Approximately three and a half months after its initial announcement, the early access version of “Descenders Next” has been secretly released on various intended platforms such as PC and the most recent versions of Xbox consoles from the current generation. True to their word, this extreme sports game was also launched as an immediate addition to Xbox Game Pass on its release day. Consequently, “Descenders Next” can now be accessed via Microsoft’s Ultimate subscription tier, in addition to PC Game Pass. Furthermore, it offers support for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
New and Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games
Game | Game Pass Tier(s) | Platform(s) | Date | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Descenders Next | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Jul 21 | Game Preview. Shadow-dropped after being delayed in April 2025. |
Abiotic Factor | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, Console, PC | Jul 22 | Day-one (console) release. |
Wheel World | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Jul 23 | Day-one release. |
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Jul 24 | Day-one release. |
Grounded 2 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Jul 29 | Day-one release. |
Farming Simulator 25 | Standard, PC, Ultimate | Cloud, Console, PC | Aug 1 | |
Gears of War: Reloaded | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Aug 26 | Day-one release. |
Keeper | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Oct 17 | Day-one release. |
Ninja Gaiden 4 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Oct 21 | Day-one release. |
The Outer Worlds 2 | Ultimate, PC | Cloud, PC, Series X/S | Oct 29 | Day-one release. |
Users who use their XGP membership to play the freshly added game are essentially getting a $29.99 discount – the current cost of Descenders Next’s Game Preview version. The initial build of this extreme sports title doesn’t include any DLC, and there’s no sign that any paid content is planned at the moment. In fact, the original Descenders didn’t get any DLC either, but it did receive regular updates during its early access phase. It seems likely that Descenders Next will follow a similar pattern.
When Will Descenders Next Reach Xbox Game Pass Standard?
Due to being a day-one release, “Descenders Next” is not accessible through the standard version of Xbox Game Pass. This budget-friendly tier, launched in September 2024, usually lags behind the premium Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by at least six months when it comes to receiving day-one titles. These games are no longer classified as such by the time they become available. Microsoft has also stated that day-one games may take up to a year to appear on the standard tier of Xbox Game Pass. Given this pattern, “Descenders Next” might be added to the standard-tier library anywhere between January and July 2026.
Previously mentioned, Descenders Next is intended to remain in early access for about two years. Consequently, there’s a possibility that it could depart from Microsoft’s subscription service before moving beyond early access. In the near future, it’s worth noting that Xbox Game Pass will part ways with three games on July 31.
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2025-07-21 21:09