Microsoft has unveiled the upcoming departures from Xbox Game Pass, sparking quite a stir among subscribers, particularly over the loss of Stalker 2.
Originally released as an Xbox console exclusive last year, Stalker 2 has been a significant title backed by Microsoft. Although it wasn’t published by Xbox Game Studios, the company heavily promoted it ahead of its delayed November 2024 release. Microsoft also collaborated with the Ukrainian developers on a 90-minute documentary detailing the challenges faced during the game’s creation amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
According to the Xbox app, Stalker 2 will exit Game Pass on November 16, 2025, along with four other titles.
Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass Soon
Mark your calendars for November 16, 2025, as these titles will soon be departing Xbox Game Pass:
- Stalker 2
- Football Manager 2024 / Football Manager 2024 Console
- Blacksmith Master
- Frostpunk
- Spirittea
The decision to remove Stalker 2 has sparked considerable debate, especially since the game is gearing up for its PlayStation 5 debut on November 20.
“Microsoft backed GSC through all the delays and even the invasion, so it’s surprising they weren’t able to secure a better deal,” one Reddit user commented. “The game was incomplete at launch and is only now starting to resemble a finished product. Its removal from the service just ahead of the 1.7 update and PS5 release seems poorly timed.”
The game initially launched with several issues on Xbox and PC that have only been addressed in time for the PS5 version, prompting calls for it to remain on Game Pass longer.
Subscriber Reactions to Game Pass Changes
One subscriber noted, “It’s been a year, which is standard for non-Microsoft games. I’m not sure why this is such a shock.”
“Because the game just reached a decent state in that year’s time,” countered another. “It’s going to take another year to sort everything out, not even considering DLCs yet. Now’s a great time to pull it from the service.”
Another user lamented, “It’s a bad precedent that a game stays shorter in Game Pass than the wait for its launch, especially as patches are making it playable.”
“It’s unfortunate that Stalker is going,” another commented. “Released very buggy, it feels like a premium subscription is being used for beta testing. I wanted to return to the game, but it seems that ship has sailed.”
Another subscriber voiced that “Xbox has to stop funding unfinished early access games for Game Pass day one titles.”
While these titles are on their way out, they will be available at a discount of at least 20% until their removal from Xbox Game Pass in early November.
Game Pass Pricing and Future Releases
Adding to the controversy is Microsoft’s recent Game Pass price increase, which saw a significant rise to $29.99 a month for the Ultimate tier, totaling an additional $120 annually. The price hike is justified by boosting day-one releases to 75 per year, including adding Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, along with improved Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality.
As for Stalker 2’s PS5 launch, players can look forward to full DualSense controller support with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Additional technical upgrades for the PS5 Pro are also in the works.