October opens with the biggest launch of the year for Game Pass members. Gears of War: E-Day, the return of Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago 14 years before the first game, lands on October 6 straight into the library at no extra cost for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. And it is not arriving alone.

Microsoft has not posted its full October wave 1 announcement yet, which usually comes in the first week of the month. But official Xbox Wire posts already confirm three arrivals, and the last weeks of September brought heavy hitters many players have not touched yet. Here is only what is officially confirmed, tier by tier, no guesswork.

Confirmed Game Pass games for October

  • Keeper (October 2): joins Game Pass Premium; it was already on Ultimate and PC Game Pass
  • Gears of War: E-Day (October 6): Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, day one
  • Echo Weaver (October 8): day one on Game Pass, with Xbox Play Anywhere
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A word of warning: some lists going around online include other October releases as if they were Game Pass games. In the official post covering October 5 to 9, only Gears of War: E-Day and Echo Weaver are tagged as Game Pass. The rest are store releases, not library arrivals.

Gears of War: E-Day (October 6)

This is the reason many people will subscribe this month. Developed by The Coalition, E-Day tells the story of Emergence Day, when the Locust Horde erupts from underground and starts the war that drives the whole series. Marcus and Dom are younger, the threat is new to them, and the tone leans further into horror than recent entries.

The game arrives on October 6 on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, across Xbox Series X|S, PC, handhelds and cloud. Game Pass members can also buy the Premium Upgrade to play from early access, which opened on October 1.

A squad in action in a ruined city in Gears of War: E-Day

If you are jumping into the campaign, we have three pieces to get you ready: the release time, early access and PC requirements guide, the beginner's guide with 10 tips and our roundup of what critics thought.

Keeper (October 2)

Keeper is the latest adventure from Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts. You play a forgotten lighthouse that wakes up and wanders the island alongside a seabird, in an atmospheric puzzle adventure with no combat and the studio's trademark humor and strangeness.

The game originally launched in October 2025 on Xbox Series X|S and PC, and reached PS5 in September 2026. What is new is its move into Game Pass Premium: members on the middle tier now get access too, alongside Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. It is a great pick for a calm afternoon between Gears missions.

Echo Weaver (October 8)

Echo Weaver is the indie bet of the month. Made by Moonlight Kids and published by Akupara Games, it is a knowledge-based Metroidvania: you live through an unraveling time loop, and what moves you forward is not new gear but what you learn about the world on each run.

It launches day one on Game Pass with Xbox Play Anywhere, so your progress carries between console and PC. If you loved Outer Wilds or Hollow Knight, this could be the surprise of the month.

Exploration in Echo Weaver

What arrived in late September that you may have missed

The last weeks of September were strong for the library, and these games are still available:

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (September 25): now also on Game Pass Premium; here is where to play it
  • Minecraft Dungeons II (September 29): Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, day one
  • Dune: Awakening (September 22): Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass
  • Ninja Gaiden 4 (September 17): now also on Game Pass Premium
Operators in combat in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Which Game Pass tier gets what

Since the plans were restructured, Game Pass has three console options and one PC option, and the difference is mostly about new releases:

  • Game Pass Ultimate: the full plan, with Xbox games on day one, like Gears of War: E-Day, plus cloud gaming and online multiplayer
  • PC Game Pass: Xbox day-one releases, on PC only
  • Game Pass Premium: a bigger library, but Xbox first-party games arrive after launch; that is the case for Keeper and Black Ops 6 right now
  • Game Pass Essential: the entry plan, with online multiplayer and a smaller selection of games

Prices vary by region and change often, so check the official Xbox Game Pass page before you subscribe.

When the full list arrives

Microsoft usually announces wave 1 in the first week of the month and wave 2 around mid-month on Xbox Wire. As soon as the full official October list is out, we will update this article with every game, date and the titles leaving the library.

Our take

October is the month Game Pass proves its point. A new Gears on day one, which costs $69.99 on its own, covers a few months of subscription for anyone who just wants the campaign. The catch is the tier: Premium members do not get E-Day on October 6, and that is where a lot of people will get confused.

If Gears is all you plan to play this month, one month of PC Game Pass or Ultimate does the job. If you keep the subscription all year, compare carefully, because the gap between tiers grew after the restructure.

FAQ

Is Gears of War: E-Day on Game Pass? Yes, from October 6, on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Is Gears of War: E-Day on Game Pass Premium? Not at launch. Xbox first-party games reach Premium later.

Which games are coming to Game Pass in October 2026? So far, Keeper (Oct 2), Gears of War: E-Day (Oct 6) and Echo Weaver (Oct 8) are confirmed. The full list is due in the coming days.

Can I play Gears early access through Game Pass? Yes, by buying the Premium Upgrade separately.