Players are always being inundated with an influx of new titles onXbox Game Passeach month, such as Bioware’sMass Effect Legendary Editionor Mobius Digital’sOuter Wilds. However,Microsoft has conversely announcedthat several titles will also be departing the service at several points this month. As it stands right now, seven games are set to leave the Netflix-like gaming subscription service before the middle of the month.
RELATED:Xbox Game Pass Game Olija Explained
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Released in beta form to widespread online fame back at the start of 2017,PUBG: Battlegroundshas in many ways helped to pave the way for the battle royale phenomenon that’s gripped the gaming landscape in recent years. Following over 70 million downloads and a revenue influx north of $6.2 billion, fueled in-part by a wildly popular mobile version,PUBG Corporation’s game is setto go free-to-play on January 12. It’s for this reason that Microsoft has announced thatPUBG: Battlegroundswill be the first game to depart Xbox Game Pass this month on January 10.
RELATED:Mass Effect Legendary Edition’s Game Pass Addition Showcases a Trend For the Service
Desperados 3
Mimimi Games’ well receivedDesperados 3is one of the titles that will be leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15. Published by THQ Nordic back during the summer of 2020, the latest entry in the long-running series revolves around the earlyWild West-themed exploits of main protagonist John Cooper. On average, beating the game’s real-time strategy centric campaign, and mastering its challenging stealth mechanics in the process, takes roughly 26 hours for most players. Sampling all of the sights that the 1870s-set adventure can take up to 65 hours though, which is worth keeping in mind considering the meaty games leaving the subscription service this month.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Of the games departing Microsoft’s subscription service at the halfway point of this month, Square Enix’sKingdom Hearts 3is going to be one of the adventures that consumes the most amount of time for many players. As the epic accumulation of over 17 years worth of Disney-themed adventures, this latest entry in the iconic action RPG series serves up plenty of memorable moments across its roughly 30 hour long main story.
Naturally, that history means it’s advisable that newcomers at least have some understanding of the narrative gauntlet thatSora and hisKingdom Heartscompanions have undertakenprior to the events of the third game. Those that fall in love withKingdom Hearts 3should be wary of the invisible ticking clock, however, as seeing everything that this epic crossover has to offer can take anywhere between 65 and 91 hours.
Pandemic: The Board Game
Inspired by the 2008 board game of the same name,Pandemicrevolves around the technically fictional premise that four deadly viruses have escaped from captivity and are threatening the future of the human race. Considering that the game is designed to be played with friends, and can subsequently be enjoyed and completed in under two hours with a bit of coordination, racing against the clock to beat it won’t take too much time out of the bigger race to finish everything else leaving Game Pass.
Ghost of a Tale
Ghost of a Taleis the second action RPG that’s departing Xbox Game Pass on January 15. Revolving around the story of a mouse and a minstrel caught up in a perilous adventure,Ghost of a Talewas brought to life by Lionel “Seith” Gallat, aUniversal Pictures and DreamWorks veteran. Naturally considering this pedigree, his and indie studio SeithCG’s efforts have led to the creation of a charmingly heartwarming tale. Typically getting to the end of that adventure takes most players only 10 hours, with completionists often being able to stretch proceedings out to roughly 19 hours in their quest to see everything on offer.
Mount & Blade: Warband
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG
As it’s title conveniently alludes to,YIIK: A Postmodern RPGis an indie role-playing game developed by Ackk Studios. Set within an alternate version of 1990s era New Jersey, this quirky adventure revolves around the mysterious supernatural disappearance of a young woman, and the subsequent attempts of her small hometown to uncover what’s happened to her. Seeing the mystery through to its conclusion before its looming departure from Xbox Game Pass on January 15 will take players on average 21 hours, a figure that’s extended to 40 if they wish to uncover everything that the village of Frankton, and its multiple endings, have in store for them.
