April is packed with activity for Xbox Game Pass: Microsoft's subscription service This month is shaping up to be one of its busiest, with a potent mix of new releases, highly anticipated returns, and some disappointing departures. Across consoles, PC, and cloud gaming, the catalog is being revamped, offering a wealth of options for virtually every type of gamer.
The overall picture for the month shows more than twenty new additions These changes are spread across all tiers (Essential, Premium, Ultimate, and the PC-specific plan), and five titles will be leaving in mid-April. In Europe, and specifically in Spain, the changes affect all available plans, so it's worth taking a close look at what's coming, what's leaving, and when you can start playing.
Xbox Game Pass release schedule for April
As usual, Microsoft is distributing the new features of Xbox Game Pass April 2026 in several batches throughout the month, combining games that have been announced for some time with last-minute surprises that have been confirmed in the first few days.
The final stretch of March already yielded some previews, such as Barbie Horse Trails or the classic Final Fantasy IVThese releases landed during the transition between fortnights and serve as a bridge to everything arriving in April. From then on, the pace doesn't slow down, with both new releases on the first of the month and big names expanding the catalog.
In addition to the dates, it's worth paying attention to what levels Each title receives a certain amount from Game Pass, because not all additions are distributed equally between Essential, Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass.
Games coming to Xbox Game Pass in April 2026
The first batch of the month focuses on reinforcing above all Ultimate, Premium and PC Game PassHowever, there's also good news for those subscribed only to the Essential tier. A total of around 21 new games will be added to the catalog on various dates in April.
These are the most important additions already confirmed for Xbox Game Pass in April 2026, with special attention to the European and Spanish markets:
- Barbie Horse Trails – April 2 (Ultimate, PC, Premium)
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – April 2 (Premium)
- NBA 2K26 – April 3 (Ultimate, PC, Premium)
- Final Fantasy IV – April 7 (Ultimate, PC, Premium)
- DayZ (PC) – April 8 (Ultimate, PC, Premium, Essential)
- Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview, PC) – April 8 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- FBC: Firebreak (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC) – April 8 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Planet Coaster 2 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC) – April 9 (Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass)
- Tiny Bookshop (Cloud, Series X|S, laptop and PC) – April 10 (Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass)
- Football Manager 26 (PC) – April 13 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Football Manager 26 Console (Cloud, console and PC) – April 13 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- hades 2 (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC) – April 14 (Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass)
- replaced (Cloud, Series X|S and PC) – April 14 (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- The Thaumaturge (Cloud, Series X|S and PC) – April 14 (Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass)
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (Cloud, Series X|S and PC) – April 16 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- EA Sports NHL 26 (Cloud and Series X|S) – April 16 (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Cloud, console and PC) – April 17 (Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass)
- Little Rocket Lab (Cloud, console and PC) – April 21 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Soup: Tale of the Stolen Potato (Cloud, console, handheld and PC) – April 21 (Premium; also on Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Vampire Crawlers (Cloud, Series X|S, laptop and PC) – April 21 (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- kiln (Cloud, Series X|S, laptop and PC) – April 23 (Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
- Aphelion – April 28 (Ultimate, PC)
Apart from this longer list, Xbox has been talking about a «first wave"April was very powerful with eight initial names (including Hades 2, Replaced, Vampire Crawlers, Kiln and Aphelion) to which other additions have been added as the days went by and the official notes were published.
The big releases of the month: Hades 2, Oblivion and more
Although the number of titles is impressive, there are several games that steal much of the spotlight in the new releases. Xbox Game Pass April 2026These are releases that, by name or context, are destined to mark the month within the service.
On one side is hades 2The sequel to Supergiant Games' acclaimed roguelike, launches on Game Pass on April 14th as a day-one release on Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud streaming. It has received top marks in Spanish gaming publications, which highlight that it surpasses the first installment in pacing, depth, and level design.
The other big draw for many users is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredThe game will be added to the catalog on April 16th with a remastered version for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud gaming. For those who enjoyed the original, it's a way to return to Cyrodiil with significant visual improvements (resolution and smoothness) at no additional cost beyond the subscription.
In the realm of shooters, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare It joins Game Pass on April 17, a move that has sparked debate about Call of Duty on Game PassThe game arrives backed by good reviews in Europe, where the improvement in shooting sensations compared to previous installments and the graphical leap have been highlighted, making it one of the most striking releases of the month from a commercial point of view.
This group of protagonists is completed by other names such as Planet Coaster 2 y Football Manager 26which strengthen the catalog for those seeking management and simulation, or the launch of replaced, which with its pixel art aesthetic and cyberpunk setting had long been rumored as one of the most anticipated indie games in the Xbox ecosystem.
Kiln, Vampire Crawlers and the indie games that aim high
Beyond the big blockbusters, April offers a great showcase of independent games and different proposals that find in Game Pass an ideal way to reach more people, especially in Spain and the rest of Europe, where the service has a very consolidated user base.
In that group, he stands out. kilnDouble Fine's new title, slated for release on April 23rd on Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, is a multiplayer battle game featuring player-created ceramic figures—a rather unique blend that aligns with the studio's style and will likely gain traction thanks to its direct release.
Another title that might surprise you is Vampire Crawlers, scheduled for April 21. The key here is to withstand waves of enemies by improving skills in quick matches, a type of formula that usually works well between short sessions and lends itself to consoles as well as portable or cloud gaming.
Also making their way onto the agenda are more relaxed indie acts like Tiny Bookshopdesigned for those who prefer relaxed management experiences, or proposals with a strong historical focus such as Aphelion, which is added at the end of the month and focuses on exploration and storytelling.
Taken together, these releases reinforce the feeling that April is not limited to big namesInstead, it tries to cover different tastes with small but striking ideas, something that has become common in Game Pass's strategy over the last few months.
New subscriptions for all plans: Essential, Premium, Ultimate and PC
One of the details to keep in mind this month is how the new features are distributed among the different levels of Xbox Game Pass in Spain, and how The new plans remainNot all games are included in all subscriptions, so it's a good idea to check which plan you're on before you get a surprise.
Level EssentialThe cheapest option available in the country, which costs around €8,99 per month, includes about 50 games along with online multiplayer. April brings some fresh air for those happy with this plan, as titles such as [titles missing] are being added. DayZ for PC and cooperative Warhammer vermintide 2, which had been among the community's demands for some time.
Above it is located Game Pass PremiumWith a price of around €12,99 per month in Spain, this tier grants access to approximately 200 titles and includes a guarantee that Xbox-published games will be added to the catalog twelve months after their commercial release. It also provides access to specific new releases such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Endless Legend 2 or the remastered version of Oblivion.
The next step up is Game Pass Ultimatewhich costs around €26,99 per month and includes more than 400 games, day-one releases, access to EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics, plus additional benefits in titles like Fortnite and includes new streaming features that improve the PC and cloud experience.
lastly is PC GamePasswhich in Spain costs approximately €14,99 per month and offers a catalog of "hundreds of games" for PC, including Xbox releases from day one. In April, this plan is further strengthened with titles such as Football Manager 26, DayZ, Planet Coaster 2, hades 2 o Endless Legend 2, among many others.
Games leaving Xbox Game Pass in April
It wasn't all about tickets: the other side of the Xbox Game Pass news April 2026 These are the titles scheduled to leave the service mid-month. Microsoft has updated the service section on PC and console to detail which games are leaving and on what date they will no longer be available within the subscription.
A total, sound five games Those games leaving the catalog in April will have a particularly strong impact on players who were actively playing them or had them on their backlog. The company usually keeps them available until mid-month, and in this case, all signs point to April 15th as the key date.
These are the titles that will be removed from Xbox Game Pass during April 2026:
- Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud, console and PC), both in its enhanced version for Xbox Series and in the original Xbox One version.
- Ashen (Cloud, console and PC).
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (Cloud, console and PC).
- My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery (Cloud, console and PC).
- undefeated land (Game Preview, PC).
the march of GTA V It's probably the most talked-about, both because of the franchise's popularity in Europe and the widespread use of its online mode. Xbox often offers discounts to permanently purchase these titles before they leave the service, so anyone wanting to continue playing can take advantage of those early days.
In the case of Ashen y Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred HeroesThese are two titles with very dedicated communities that lose visibility upon leaving Game Pass, a relatively common occurrence when the agreement between publishers and Microsoft ends. My Little Pony and Terra Invicta are also leaving, closing a chapter in which they contributed variety within their respective genres.
A key month for the immediate future of Game Pass
Beyond the specific highs and lows, April arrives at a time of significant changes within the Xbox ecosystemMicrosoft's video game division has a new director, Asha Sharma, is revamping classic advertising campaigns like "This is an Xbox," and is continuing work on Project Helix, the next console on which the company has pinned some of its hopes.
Game Pass itself is also undergoing a redefinition phase, a debate about the sustainability of Xbox Game Pass which has intensified following recent news and influences how future changes to the subscription are planned.
Game Pass itself is also undergoing a redesign. In recent weeks, reports have emerged suggesting that Microsoft and Netflix They have held talks to explore the possibility of a combined package that includes the video game service and the streaming platform for series and movies. For now, they are only discussing "exploring ideas," with no agreements finalized, but it is another indication that the company continues to look for ways to grow its subscription service.
At the same time, there has been speculation about the arrival of some kind of new level of Game Pass More focused on Xbox-specific games, this option would fit with the strategy of strengthening day-one releases within the ecosystem. April, with such a wide array of titles, serves to some extent as a showcase for this strategy of offering high value for the monthly fee.
All of this is complemented by a summer 2026 video game event calendar packed with presentations where Microsoft is expected to provide more details about the future of Game Pass, Project Helix, and its roadmap for the coming years on consoles, PC, and cloud.
Taken as a whole, April 2026 leaves Xbox Game Pass in a pretty strong positionThe service gains momentum with new releases like Hades 2, Oblivion Remastered, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Kiln, while simultaneously bidding farewell to heavyweights like GTA V and adjusting its catalog with the release of several niche titles. For those playing from Spain or the rest of Europe, the month translates into many potential hours of gameplay spread across the various plans, with options for almost every taste and the feeling that Microsoft wants the service to remain one of the key elements of its ecosystem.
