Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass service is constantly adding new games, but titles are removed from the lineup at regular intervals as well. Microsoft typically removes Xbox Game Pass games in two batches, with a set of titles getting the boot in the middle of the month and another set getting removed at the end of the month. With that in mind, Microsoft has revealed six games that are getting removed from Xbox Game Pass in the first half of January 2022.
The first game being removed from Xbox Game Pass in January is PUBG: Battlegrounds, which will leave the service on Wednesday, January 12. PUBG: Battlegrounds is the game that really kickstarted the battle royale craze and has maintained a large fanbase, but Xbox Game Pass subscribers shouldn’t stress too much about it getting removed. PUBG: Battlegrounds is going free-to-play, so Xbox gamers will still be able to play it without paying anything.
The other five games being removed from Xbox Game Pass are Desperados 3, Ghost of a Tale, Mount & Blade: Warband, Pandemic: The Board Game, and YIIK: A Postmodern RPG, with all of these titles being removed on Saturday, January 15. That gives Xbox Game Pass subscribers a little less than two weeks to play these games before they’re gone, so anyone interested may want to get to work on them.
Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving January 2022
- PUBG: Battlegrounds – January 12
- Desperados 3 – January 15
- Ghost of a Tale – January 15
- Mount & Blade: Warband – January 15
- Pandemic: The Board Game – January 15
- YIIK: A Postmodern RPG – January 15
While Xbox Game Pass subscribers should check out any of these games that catch their interest, the one that fans may want to prioritize over the others is Desperados 3. Desperados 3 is a tactical stealth game set in the Wild West that earned critical acclaim at the time of its original release in 2020. Desperados 3 reviews praised the game’s rewarding challenge and unique gameplay, and it was even nominated for a Game Award. It takes roughly 25 to 30 hours to beat Desperados 3, so Xbox Game Pass subscribers that are interested should check it out ASAP.
Of course, if Xbox Game Pass subscribers don’t have time to get through Desperados 3 or any of the other games leaving the service this month, they can buy them at a discount. Xbox Game Pass games are readily available at 20% off for subscribers to buy to keep, which is one of the more useful perks of the subscription service.
As for new games coming to Xbox Game Pass in January, Microsoft has yet to reveal the full slate. However, we do know that day one game The Anacrusis is coming to Xbox Game Pass on January 13, and it will be followed by other day one games like Pupperazzi and Windjammers 2 on January 20.
