Xbox Game Pass late October 2026: Final Fantasy VII Remake arrives, Football Manager 26 leaves

Microsoft has announced the second batch of Xbox Game Pass games for October, and it’s a decent mix: a big-name RPG, a nostalgic tower-defence remaster, a couple of horror games just in time for Halloween and a handful of indie titles arriving on day one. It has also confirmed which games are leaving the service at the end of the month, which matters just as much if you’re halfway through one of them.

Here’s what’s coming, what’s going, and how to make the most of it without wasting your subscription.

What’s coming to Game Pass

According to Xbox Wire’s announcement on 20 October, these are the headline additions:

• Sandustry (Game Preview, PC) – 21 October. A factory and automation game set in fully destructible worlds, where every pixel of sand is a resource. It’s now in Game Pass Premium, joining Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Dodo Duckie (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S and PC) – 22 October. A family-friendly puzzle platformer that switches between 2D and 3D.
• Scramble Knights Online (Game Preview) – 26 October, day one on Game Pass. An “MMO-lite” action RPG built around playing with friends.
• The Séance of Blake Manor – 27 October. A supernatural detective mystery set in 1897 Ireland. Ideal for a slow-burn Halloween.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade – 29 October. The big one. It retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with a battle system that mixes real-time action and command-based combat.
• Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted – 29 October, via EA Play in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The classic in HD, with new levels.
• Terrible Lizards – 29 October, day one. A horror parkour game where you escape rather than fight.
• Pit of Goblin – 3 November. An online co-op horror game where you scavenge dungeons as a goblin.

There’s also a Season 2 update for The Elder Scrolls Online (Echoes of Skyrim) on 21 October, plus in-game perks: a Welcome Pack for The Finals available now, and an XP bundle for World of Tanks Modern Armor from 3 November.

Check your tier before you get excited

Game Pass now comes in several tiers, and not every game lands in all of them. Going by Microsoft’s own listing:

• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, The Séance of Blake Manor, Dodo Duckie and Pit of Goblin are in Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass.
• Scramble Knights Online, Terrible Lizards and Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted are listed for Ultimate and PC Game Pass only.
• The perks for The Finals and World of Tanks extend down to Game Pass Essential as well.

If you’re on Premium and you were looking forward to Plants vs. Zombies, it’s worth knowing that before the 29th. Tiers and prices do change, so check the official Game Pass page on xbox.com for what your plan currently includes.

What’s leaving, and when

This is the bit people miss. The following games leave Game Pass on 31 October:

• Day of the Tentacle Remastered
• Dead Static Drive
• Deep Rock Galactic
• Full Throttle Remastered
• Grim Fandango Remastered
• Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
• Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
• Wartales
• Wildgate

And on 10 November, Football Manager 26 (PC) and Football Manager 26 – Console Edition both leave.

That Football Manager date is the one to watch. If you’ve sunk a season or three into a save, losing access mid-campaign is frustrating. Microsoft says members can save on games before they leave, so if you’re attached to a save, buying the game outright is usually the cleanest way to carry on. Your saves are typically tied to your account rather than the subscription, but it’s sensible to check before the deadline rather than after.

Deep Rock Galactic and Lego Star Wars are also well worth a final blast if you’ve got friends or kids on the same service. Both are great co-op games, and you’ve got about ten days.

Our take: a solid month, especially for families and co-op

Not every month of Game Pass is a winner, but this one has something for most households. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a long, polished RPG that would cost a fair bit on its own. Plants vs. Zombies and Dodo Duckie are easy picks for younger players. And there’s a run of co-op and online titles (Scramble Knights Online, Pit of Goblin) if your group chat is looking for something new.

A few balanced points, though:

• Game Preview means unfinished. Sandustry and Scramble Knights Online are early access. Expect rough edges, and don’t judge the final game on day one.
• Subscriptions only pay off if you play. If you only dip in for one game every few months, buying that game in a sale may well work out cheaper.

Practical checklist for this month

1. Finish (or buy) anything from the leaving list before 31 October, and Football Manager before 10 November.
2. Check your tier against the games you want, especially Plants vs. Zombies and Terrible Lizards.
3. Claim the free The Finals Welcome Pack while the season lasts, even if you only play occasionally.
4. Free up some storage. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a big download, so clear space before the 29th.

Shop the picks

If you’re settling in for a long RPG or a co-op session this month, a few picks from the TrueNorth Tech X shop can help:

Xbox Wireless Controller – Carbon Black

A spare pad for co-op nights on the sofa, and it works with PC too.

See it in our shop

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core (White)

Adjustable sticks and triggers for anyone putting serious hours into shooters or long RPGs.

See it in our shop

HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset – Red

A comfortable headset for online co-op and for the atmosphere in horror games like The Séance of Blake Manor.

See it in our shop

Not sure which headset suits you? Take our 60-second headset quiz.

Got a question about which Game Pass tier suits your household, or need a hand setting up a console or gaming PC? Get in touch with us here in Wakefield. We’re always happy to help.

Featured image: Xbox / Microsoft