Xbox Game Pass started October off with some pretty bad news, mainly a price hike for the Ultimate tier from $19.99 a month to $29.99 a month. Changes hit all tiers, now Essential, Premium, and Ultimate, with day one releases of Xbox-published games exclusive to the Ultimate tier. While that news is still fresh in everyone’s minds, Xbox is hoping to wash away some of it by revealing the first wave of titles heading to the subscription service for October.
Starting today, Supermarket Simulator is available on Cloud, Console, and PC for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers. As its name suggests, Supermarket Simulator lets players run their own supermarket as a store management game. Tomorrow, Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions head to PC for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass members. These two games are already available on console and cloud, offering over 100 hours of adventure for those who got their start with the franchise in Baldur’s Gate 3.
If you’re looking to celebrate spooky season, The Casting of Frank Stone from Supermassive Games arrives October 14 on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Set in the Dead by Daylight universe, this horror game takes players to Cedar Hills, where they’ll learn all they can about Frank Stone’s blood-soaked legacy. The Casting of Frank Stone will be available to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers.
The next game on our list became one of our most anticipated after its demo: Ball x Pit. Described as a brick-building, ball-fusing, base-building survival roguelite, Ball x Pit puts a fresh spin on the survivors-like genre. It’s a day one release on October 15 on Cloud, Console, and PC for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Also joining the lineup that day on Cloud, Console, and PC for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers is The Grinch: Christmas Adventures. It might seem a bit early to get into the holiday spirit, but if you want a festive platformer starring The Grinch, there you go.
October 15 will also bring three titles to the Game Pass Premium lineup. The first is Eternal Strands on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S, the debut fantasy title from Yellow Brick Games. Launched earlier this year in January, it’s a third-person fantasy action game starring Brynn, a young Weaver who wields fire, ice, and kinetic magic. The second title is He Is Coming, a Game Preview (Early Access) roguelite RPG auto-battler from Chronocle. The third title joining Game Pass Premium is Ninja Gaiden 2 Black on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. This surprise release came in January 2025, along with the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4, which launches on October 21.
Before we get to that, though, Pax Dei joins the PC lineup on October 16 for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers. From Mainframe Industries, Pax Dei is a social sandbox MMO inspired by legends of the medieval era and is exiting Early Access on October 16. The following day, October 17, brings another day one release with Keeper. Available on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, Keeper comes from Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, telling the story of a long-forgotten lighthouse and a spirited seabird. Keeper is looking like a truly unique journey, telling a heartening story of companionship without using words. I’m looking forward to checking this one out on the ROG Xbox Ally X.
Game Pass sees two additions on October 21. The first is Evil West, returning to the library on Cloud, Console, and PC for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers. It’s an action-adventure game that can be enjoyed solo or co-op, offering hours of vampire-killing entertainment.
The second title for October 21 and arguably the main highlight of the Game Pass October wave 1 lineup is Ninja Gaiden 4. Available as a day one release on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, Ninja Gaiden 4 comes from PlatinumGames, Team Ninja, and Koei Tecmo Games. It’s a highly anticipated sequel for one of gaming’s most storied franchises. In an era where nearly everything is trying to be a Soulslike, we’re hoping Ninja Gaiden 4 brings back fast-paced, hack-and-slash combat to the masses.
The following titles are leaving the Game Pass library on October 15:
- Cocoon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Core Keeper (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Game Pass October 2025 Wave 1 Lineup
- Supermarket Simulator (Cloud, Console, and PC / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 8
- Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (PC / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 9
- The Casting of Frank Stone (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 14
- Ball x Pit (Cloud, Console, and PC / Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass) – October 15
- The Grinch: Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console, and PC / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 15
- Eternal Strands (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S / Now with Game Pass Premium) – October 15
- He Is Coming (Game Preview) (PC / Now with Game Pass Premium) – October 15
- Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S / Now with Game Pass Premium) – October 15
- Pax Dei (PC / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 16
- Keeper (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S / Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass) – October 17
- Evil West (Cloud, Console, and PC / Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass) – October 21
- Ninja Gaiden 4 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S / Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass) – October 21
