Six Games Depart Xbox Game Pass on January 15, 2025: What You Need to Know
Today, on 15 January 2025, six games have been removed from the Xbox Game Pass catalog, leaving subscribers, especially those who favor multiplayer titles, with a sense of disappointment.This follows the service’s routine of trimming its library every 15 days, typically at the middle and end of each month. The latest wave of departures includes fan favorites like Escape Academy, those who Remain, Exoprimal, Insurgency: Sandstorm, Figment: Journey Into the Mind, and Common’hood.
Half of the departing games are multiplayer-focused, with Exoprimal and Insurgency: Sandstorm leading the pack. Meanwhile, Escape Academy, which has been a staple in the Xbox Game Pass catalog since its day-one release in July 2022, offers a beloved co-op mode that has resonated with players. For console gamers, this is the last chance to experience Escape Academy before its PC version becomes available for free on the Epic Games Store starting January 16, 2025.Subscribers in the US still have a few hours to dive into these titles before they vanish. Games like Figment: Journey Into the Mind and Those Who Remain are perfect for a final playthrough, offering immersive single-player experiences.
What’s Next for Xbox Game Pass?
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The next round of removals is scheduled for January 31, 2025, with the lineup expected to be revealed alongside the January wave 2 additions. among the anticipated departures are Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders,Eternal Strands,Sniper Elite: Resistance,and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. These titles are part of four day-one releases planned for the final 11 days of the month, ensuring that microsoft’s subscription service remains fresh and engaging.
Fans can look forward to more updates during the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 on january 23, 2025, where new announcements about the Xbox Game Pass catalog are expected.
Key Takeaways
Here’s a fast summary of the games leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15, 2025:
| Game Title | Genre | notable Features |
|——————————-|————————-|——————————————|
| Escape academy | Puzzle/Co-op | Popular co-op mode, free on Epic Games Store (PC) starting Jan 16 |
| Those Who Remain | Horror | Immersive single-player experience |
| Exoprimal | Multiplayer | Team-based action gameplay |
| Insurgency: Sandstorm | Multiplayer | Tactical first-person shooter |
| Figment: journey Into the Mind | Adventure | Story-driven single-player |
| Common’hood | Simulation | Community-building mechanics |
For those who haven’t yet explored these titles, now is the time to act. Whether you’re a fan of intense multiplayer battles or prefer solo adventures, these games offer something for everyone.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Xbox Game Pass catalog and mark your calendars for the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 on January 23, 2025, for the latest announcements.
Source: Gamerant
Xbox Game Pass january 2025 Update: Expert Insights on Departing Titles and What’s Next
On January 15, 2025, six games where removed from the xbox Game Pass catalog, leaving subscribers, particularly fans of multiplayer titles, feeling a sense of loss.This follows the service’s regular schedule of updating its library every 15 days. To shed light on the impact of these departures and what subscribers can expect next, we sat down wiht gaming industry expert Marcus Reynolds, a seasoned analyst with over a decade of experience in subscription-based gaming services. In this interview, Marcus shares his thoughts on the departing games, the future of Xbox Game Pass, and what fans should keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
The Departing Games: A Closer Look
Senior Editor: Marcus, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the six games that left Xbox Game Pass on January 15. What’s your take on the titles that were removed?
marcus Reynolds: Thanks for having me! The six games that departed—Escape Academy, Those Who Remain, Exoprimal, Insurgency: Sandstorm, Figment: Journey Into the Mind, and Common’hood—represent a diverse mix of genres. Half of them are multiplayer-focused, which is interesting because multiplayer games tend to have a dedicated fanbase. Exoprimal and Insurgency: Sandstorm, such as, are team-based action games that have been quite popular. Their removal might disappoint players who rely on Game Pass for access to these kinds of experiences.
Senior Editor: Escape Academy has been a staple since its day-one release in July 2022. What makes this game so special, and how do you think its departure will affect players?
Marcus Reynolds: Escape academy is unique because of its co-op puzzle-solving mechanics. It’s been a fan favorite for its engaging gameplay and the way it encourages teamwork.Its departure is notable, but there’s a silver lining: the PC version will be available for free on the Epic Games Store starting January 16. So, while console players might feel the loss, PC gamers can still enjoy it.
What’s Next for Xbox Game Pass?
Senior Editor: The article mentions that the next round of removals is scheduled for January 31, 2025. can you give us some insight into what we might expect?
Marcus Reynolds: Absolutely. The next wave of departures is expected to include titles like Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders, Eternal Strands, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector. These are all day-one releases, which shows Microsoft’s commitment to keeping the catalog fresh. It’s a balancing act—removing older titles while introducing new ones to keep subscribers engaged.
Senior Editor: Speaking of new additions, the xbox Developer Direct 2025 is coming up on January 23. What kind of announcements are you anticipating?
Marcus Reynolds: The Developer Direct is always an exciting event. I expect we’ll see announcements about upcoming Game Pass titles, possibly some surprises, and updates on highly anticipated games. Microsoft has been great at leveraging these events to build hype, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they reveal a few big names for the service.
Key Takeaways for Subscribers
Senior Editor: For those who haven’t yet played the games that left on January 15, what would you recommend they do?
Marcus Reynolds: If you’re a subscriber, now’s the time to act. Games like Figment: Journey Into the Mind and Those Who Remain offer immersive single-player experiences that are worth a final playthrough. For multiplayer fans, Exoprimal and Insurgency: Sandstorm are still available for purchase, so if you’ve enjoyed them, consider buying them before they’re gone.
Senior Editor: Any final thoughts for our readers?
Marcus Reynolds: Xbox Game Pass continues to evolve, and while departures can be disappointing, they’re part of the service’s strategy to keep things fresh. Keep an eye on the Developer Direct later this month—there’s always something exciting on the horizon.And for those who missed out on the departing games, don’t forget that some, like Escape Academy, will still be available on other platforms.
Senior Editor: Thanks, Marcus, for your insights. It’s been a pleasure having you here.
Marcus Reynolds: Thank you! Always great to talk about the ever-changing world of gaming.
Source: Gamerant
