Microsoft’s Game Pass lineup may be about to get even more budget-friendly. A new leak suggests the company is preparing a cheaper subscription option in select markets, and it could arrive with a surprisingly large library right out of the gate.
According to the leak, this upcoming plan is expected to be called Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition. The original tease claimed it would include “50+ games” at launch, but the newest details go further, pointing to a total of 58 playable titles available from day one. That’s a strong starting catalog for anyone who wants access to popular Xbox games without paying for higher-tier plans.
The leak arrives alongside Microsoft’s recent announcement that 15 new games are coming to Game Pass on day one. Most of those are expected to be available across Microsoft’s platforms, though at least one title is said to be limited to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S for its day-one availability. Taken together, it hints that Microsoft is reshaping how its Game Pass tiers are positioned, giving players more ways to subscribe based on budget and platform.
One of the more interesting details is that Starter Edition may not simply mirror the existing Essential tier library. The leak claims Starter Edition subscribers could get access to a few games that aren’t included with Essential, including Doom 64 and Psychonauts (Windows 10). If true, that would make Starter Edition more than just a cheaper alternative—it could be a slightly different bundle aimed at specific audiences.
As for timing, the same leak estimates an official launch by mid-May, and it leaves the door open for an announcement as soon as late April. If Microsoft is planning a new Game Pass tier, a short lead-up would make sense, especially with a ready-to-go launch lineup.
Here is the full rumored list of Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition games in alphabetical order:
Among Us
Astroneer
Batman: Arkham Knight
Celestial
Chivalry 2
Cities: Skylines – Remastered (Including Cities: Skylines – Windows 10 Edition & Cities: Skylines – Xbox One Edition)
Control (Including Control Ultimate Edition)
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Dayz
Dead Cells
Deep Rock Galactic
Descenders
Dishonored 2
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Doom 64
Doom Eternal
Fable Anniversary
Fallout 4
Fallout 76
Firewatch
Gang Beasts
Gears 5 (Including Goty Edition)
Golf With Your Friends
Grounded
Hades
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Wars 2
Hellblade: Senua’S Sacrifice
Human Fall Flat
Inside
Limbo
Medieval Dynasty
Monster Sanctuary
Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Overcooked! 2
Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
Powerwash Simulator
Psychonauts (Windows 10)
Psychonauts 2
Retro Classics
Slay The Spire
Snowrunner
Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
Stardew Valley
State Of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
Stellaris
Superhot: Mind Control Delete
Superliminal
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’S Revenge
The Elder Scrolls Online: Standard Edition
Totally Reliable Delivery Service
Tunic
Unpacking
Vampire Survivors
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
World War Z (Including World War Z: Aftermath)
Wreckfest
If this leak holds up, Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition could be an appealing entry point for new subscribers, casual players, or anyone looking to expand their library with a broad mix of action, RPGs, indies, co-op favorites, and long-running franchises—without committing to a pricier tier.
