The Xbox Game Pass subscription is always rotating through a fluctuating list of games. With multiple titles joining and leaving the service each month, subscribers to Xbox Game Pass can enjoy fan-favorite video games and new releases at a cheaper cost than purchasing them outright. For December, Xbox Game Pass has made some big announcements regarding both the new and departing games on this list.
Overall, Xbox Game Pass will be saying goodbye to and welcoming a total of 20 different games in December to end 2021 with a bang. While many fans might not be ready to see some of their favorites leaving, their departure will make space for the same-day release of games like Halo Infinite on Xbox Game Pass this month. On top of this, the number of games announced to be leaving Xbox Game Pass for December is roughly half the size of the number of games joining the service, only increasing the value that subscribers can get before 2022 starts.
Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass
The seven games leaving Xbox Game Pass this December feature some of the best titles that have been a part of the service so far. While there are a lot of fan-favorites and major releases that come to Xbox Game Pass almost all the time, not all of them maintain fanbases to the extent that titles like Destiny 2 have. The silver lining for some fans though, is that the titles replacing these seven games are among some of the most anticipated games of 2021.
Still, the departure of the following games means that Xbox Game Pass subscribers only have a limited amount of time left to enjoy them through the service. With roughly two weeks left to enjoy all except one of the titles leaving Xbox Game Pass for December, subscribers should take time before the middle of the month to try and enjoy some of these games:
- Destiny 2 – December 8 (While the free version of Destiny 2 will still be available to console and cloud gamers, only Xbox Game Pass subscribers on PC will have access to Destiny 2’s paid expansions through the service.)
- Beholder – December 15
- The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan – December 15
- Guacamelee! 2 – December 15
- Wilmot’s Warehouse – December 15
- Unto The End – December 15
- Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair – December 15
While Destiny 2 is the only exception to the games leaving Xbox Game Pass on December 15, there is some good news for fans of the looter-shooter. Because Destiny 2 was recently added to Xbox Game Pass on PC its expansions will still be accessible to those that use the service outside of the cloud and console versions. Destiny 2 will also be making its Forsaken campaign free to all players on December 8 before most of the expansion’s content is vaulted in 2022, helping to soften the blow of it being a part of the departing roster of games for Xbox Game Pass this month.
Games Coming to Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass is adding 13 new games for December 2021 building on its consistently impressive list of options. Many of the titles will also be accessible through each of the service’s different platforms, being available via the cloud, on console, and as part of Xbox Game Pass on PC as well. Among the 13 different games being added is a healthy mix of beloved indie games alongside major AAA titles that players have been looking forward to for a while.
- ANVIL – December 2 – Console, PC
- Archvale – December 2 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Final Fantasy 13-2 – December 2 – Console, PC
- Lawn Mowing Simulator – December 2 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Rubber Bandits – December 2 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Stardew Valley – December 2 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector – December 2 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Space Warlord Organ Trading Simulator – December 7 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Halo Infinite – December 8 – Cloud, Console, PC
- One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 – December 9 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite – December 14 – Cloud, Console, PC
- Among Us – December 14 – Console
- The Gunk – December 16 – Cloud, Console, PC
As smaller titles that still pull in dedicated fanbases, Among Us and Stardew Valley are great additions to see for Xbox Game Pass. The November update for Among Us has only built on the second wind that the game was able to develop following its skyrocketing popularity during the pandemic. Following the release of new roles and maps, there’s a lot that new and veteran players can look forward too coupled with the dramatic gameplay that comes with the asymmetrical PvP used in Among Us.
Similarly, now is a great time for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to get into Stardew Valley. Even though the game was released over five years ago, the recent Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 update may have hit some people with a little bit of FOMO, and Stardew Valley is a great alternative for those that don’t have access to a Nintendo Switch console. Combined with the recent announcement that the developer behind Stardew Valley has a new project called Haunted Chocolatier coming out, revisiting the title could be a great way to get a feel for what players might be able to expect from the upcoming title.
Still, as great as these and other titles are, this month's creme de la creme for many Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be Halo Infinite, which will be available on day one. The surprise launch of Halo Infinite’s multiplayer may have shafted Battlefield’s chances, but November was only a start for the Master Chief. Once released on Xbox Game Pass, the campaign for Halo Infinite may take the world by storm as it offers a new approach to how the franchise handles its story. With an open world, Halo Infinite might become one of the most memorable FPS experiences, and its addition to Xbox Game Pass this month will only help it burn brighter.