Hold onto your controllers because July is truly heating up for Game Pass subscribers – with a number of new games landing on the subscription service this week!
In fact, this week delivers an electrifying mix of high-octane action-RPGs, charming management sims, and the return of a legendary extreme sports franchise. Join us as we dive into all the latest updates…
New Adventures Hitting Game Pass This Week
We’ve got three new games hitting Game Pass in the week commencing July 7th, and they are three big hitters that you won’t want to miss.
The Ascent (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 8th
Prepare to plunge into a stunningly vibrant yet brutally unforgiving cyberpunk world as The Ascent makes its return to Game Pass.
Set on Veles, a densely packed corporate-run metropolis, you play as a worker enslaved by the powerful Ascent Group. When this monolithic corporation mysteriously shuts down, plunging your district into chaos, you must take up arms to uncover the truth behind the collapse. This action-shooter RPG offers intense twin-stick combat, deep character customisation, and a sprawling sci-fi environment filled with dangerous gangs, corporate conspiracies, and otherworldly creatures.
Whether you go solo or team up with friends in co-op, the sheer visual spectacle and explosive gunplay are undeniable. As our 4/5 review highlighted, “experiences like The Ascent don’t come along often, and it really should be experienced. Game Pass may well turn out to be The Ascent’s redemption. This is an an experience that’s best had in co-op, and a day one launch on Xbox’s service means that almost all obstacles are removed. So, find three friends and take your time… and you and your partners will find worlds and gunplay that blow your augments clear off.“
Minami Lane (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 9th
Escape the chaos and find your inner zen with Minami Lane, a tiny, cozy, and utterly charming casual management sim.
Inspired by quaint Japanese streets, this wholesome game tasks you with building and managing your very own bustling thoroughfare. Populate your street with adorable villagers, then meticulously design and improve every inch with homes, a variety of shops (from ramen stalls to boba cafes), and enticing attractions to boost happiness.
You’ll carefully manage shop inventories, recipes, and pricing, all while observing your villagers live their lives and offer feedback. With its inviting art style, cute tanukis and cats, and a focus on strategic planning to complete mission objectives (or simply relaxing in sandbox mode), Minami Lane offers a delightful experience that promises to soothe your soul.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 11th
Get ready to drop back in and shred!
The legendary skateboarding franchise makes a triumphant return to Game Pass with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 with this fantastic collection revamping everything you loved about the classic third and fourth instalments, bringing back iconic skaters, timeless parks, and those unforgettable, eardrum-shattering soundtracks.
You’ll get to experience the timeless parks authentically remade in stunning 4K resolution with streamlined goals and the epic two-minute format. And of course, that means unleashing gnarlier tricks, getting creative in the expanded Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes (now with custom goal sharing!), and facing even more challenging objectives in the enhanced New Game+ mode.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro from the old days, perhaps having completed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, or a fresh face to the series, the smooth handling and simple-to-learn controls will have you pulling off sick combos in no time.
The shred’s not dead – it’s back and better than ever! Just be sure you realise that the Standard Edition launches on the 11th, through Game Pass, whilst a Deluxe Edition with early access is available from July 8th.
Final Call: Games Leaving Game Pass on July 15th
As new adventures arrive, it’ll soon be time to bid farewell to a few beloved titles. The following games will be departing the Game Pass library on July 15th so be sure to jump back in for one last playthrough – Flock, Mafia Definitive Edition, Magical Delicacy, Tchia, The Callisto Protocol, The Case of the Golden Idol
This week’s Game Pass update offers a fantastic blend of high-octane action, relaxing management, and skateboarding nostalgia. Dive into the new arrivals and make sure you get those last plays in on the titles heading out!
