Microsoft has confirmed Xbox Game Pass May 2026 Wave 1 with 14 titles arriving between May 5 and May 19. Forza Horizon 6, Subnautica 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and four day-one launches headline the lineup.
Microsoft has officially revealed the first wave of Xbox Game Pass games for May 2026, and it is stacked. A total of 14 titles are joining the library between May 5 and May 19, headlined by the day-one launch of Forza Horizon 6, the early access debut of Subnautica 2, and DOOM: The Dark Ages finally dropping to the Premium tier. Four games carry the coveted “available day one with Game Pass” label, meaning subscribers can play them at no extra cost from launch.
Complete May 2026 Wave 1 Game List
| Game | Date | Platforms | Game Pass Tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy V | May 5 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Ben 10 Power Trip | May 6 | Cloud, Console, PC | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Descenders Next (Game Preview) | May 6 | Cloud, Console, PC | Now with Premium; Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Wheel World | May 6 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Now with Premium; Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Wildgate | May 6 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass |
| Wuchang: Fallen Feathers | May 6 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Now with Premium; Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Mixtape | May 7 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Outbound | May 11 | Cloud, Console, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Black Jacket | May 12 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Call of the Elder Gods | May 12 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Elite Dangerous | May 12 | Cloud, Console | Ultimate, Premium |
| DOOM: The Dark Ages | May 14 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Now with Premium; Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Subnautica 2 (Game Preview) | May 14 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
| Forza Horizon 6 | May 19 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Ultimate, PC Game Pass |
Forza Horizon 6: Japan, 550+ Cars, and the Biggest Horizon Map Yet
Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 and lands on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on the same day. The long-requested Japan setting is finally a reality, featuring a massive open world spanning neon-lit Tokyo streets, cherry blossom forests, coastal highways, and the winding mountain passes of Mount Fuji. Tokyo alone is five times larger than Guanajuato in Forza Horizon 5, making it the biggest urban area in series history.
Over 550 real-world cars are included at launch, with a heavy emphasis on JDM culture. New mechanics include Touge Battles (night-time mountain pass races), Aftermarket Cars to discover and test drive in the open world, customisable garages attached to purchasable homes, and a revamped campaign structure where players start as a tourist and work their way up to Horizon Legend status. Premium Edition owners get early access from May 15, four days ahead of the general release.
Subnautica 2: Day-One Early Access with 4-Player Co-op
Subnautica 2 enters Game Preview on May 14 as a day-one Game Pass title. Developed by Unknown Worlds, this sequel introduces the franchise’s first cooperative multiplayer mode, supporting up to four players. The setting is an entirely new alien planet with unfamiliar biomes, new Leviathan-class creatures, and expanded base-building and crafting systems.
The early access period is expected to last two to three years before the full 1.0 release. The standalone purchase price starts at $29.99 and is confirmed to increase as development progresses. Game Pass subscribers can play throughout early access at no additional cost, making the subscription a strong value proposition for anyone interested in the game long-term.
DOOM: The Dark Ages Expands to Game Pass Premium
DOOM: The Dark Ages, the prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, was previously locked behind Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Starting May 14, it becomes available to Game Pass Premium subscribers as well. This is part of Microsoft’s updated policy allowing first-party titles to reach the Premium tier after their initial exclusivity window. For anyone who has not yet experienced the DOOM Slayer’s medieval crusade against Hell, this is arguably the best single-player FPS addition in months.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers: A Souls-like Worth Watching
Leenzee Games’ debut title drops onto Game Pass Premium on May 6, alongside its existing availability on Ultimate and PC tiers. Set during the fictional twilight of China’s Ming Dynasty, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a souls-like action RPG with a standout combat system built around “Skyborn Might,” a resource fuelled by perfect dodges that powers special abilities and spells. Critics praised the game’s Bloodborne-inspired interconnected level design, flexible respec system, and the risk-reward Madness mechanic that makes the player stronger but more fragile after repeated deaths. PCGamesN called it a “gold-standard soulslike,” and GameSpot highlighted its fluid combat and robust customisation.
Mixtape: A Coming-of-Age Narrative Adventure
Available day one with Game Pass on May 7, Mixtape is a narrative adventure from Beethoven & Dinosaur, the studio behind The Artful Escape, published by Annapurna Interactive. The game follows three teenagers on their last night of high school in 1990s Northern California as they revisit memories tied to a curated soundtrack. Inspired by John Hughes-era coming-of-age films, Mixtape is built around music, nostalgia, and the bittersweet feelings of growing up. It is releasing simultaneously on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Outbound, Black Jacket, and Other Notable Additions
Outbound (May 11) is a day-one Game Pass launch that flips the survival genre on its head. Instead of harsh, collapsing worlds, players build a cosy home on wheels, harvest renewable energy, grow crops, and explore a colourful open world with up to four friends in co-op.
Call of the Elder Gods (May 12) is another day-one arrival and the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2020 puzzle adventure Call of the Sea. This time the setting is a Lovecraftian narrative experience spanning far-flung corners of the Earth.
Black Jacket (May 12) comes from Mi’pu’mi Games and Skystone Games (the team behind Tiny Bookshop) and reimagines blackjack as a purgatorial card game with painterly visuals and a pitch-dark tone. Cheating is not just allowed; it is encouraged.
Elite Dangerous (May 12) returns to Game Pass on Cloud and Console for Ultimate and Premium subscribers, offering its expansive space sandbox. Wildgate (May 6) is a PvPvE multiplayer shooter blending ship-to-ship combat with first-person action. Wheel World (May 6) is a cosmic biking adventure with semi-open-world races and spirit encounters. Descenders Next (May 6) adds snowboarding and mountainboarding in its Game Preview form. Final Fantasy V landed on May 5 with a refreshed 2D presentation, and Ben 10 Power Trip (May 6) rounds out the family-friendly options with co-op alien-transforming action.
Which Games Are Leaving Game Pass on May 15?
As always, new arrivals come with departures. Five games are leaving the Game Pass library on May 15:
- Galacticare (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Go Mecha Ball (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Planet of Lana (Cloud, Console, PC)
Planet of Lana and Go Mecha Ball are particularly worth checking out before they rotate off. Subscribers can also save up to 20% if they want to purchase any of these titles permanently. For a deeper look at the departing titles, check the GamerMarkt breakdown of games leaving Game Pass in May 2026.
What the Tier Breakdown Means for Subscribers
Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers get access to all 14 games. Premium subscribers gain several titles previously exclusive to higher tiers, including DOOM: The Dark Ages, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Descenders Next, and Wheel World. Essential tier holders do not receive new additions in this wave.
Following Microsoft’s April 2026 price cut, Game Pass Ultimate now costs $22.99 per month and PC Game Pass sits at $13.99. With a wave this strong, the value equation for subscribers has arguably never been better heading into the summer season. Wave 2 announcements are expected later in May.
