Xbox Announces Its September 2023 Game Pass Additions

A second round of games joining Xbox Game Pass in September has been revealed, and among them sits a massive new entry in Gears of War: E-Day, alongside two other significant additions in Dune Awakening and Minecraft Dungeons 2. This batch substantially bolsters the library, with the trio of major titles likely to be the ones pulling the most attention.

The big new Gears of War game, Gears of War: E-Day, doesn’t need much introduction. It’s a prologue of sorts to the original Gears of War story, following Marcus Fenix and pals as they react to the Locust invasion that later becomes known as Emergence Day, or E-Day for short. As an important exclusive for Xbox, the real question is whether it will measure up to what it needs to be.

The addition of a solo mode to Dune Awakening is what sets it apart from its origins as a multiplayer-first survival MMO on PC. The game first came out last summer, and it has been moving away from its massively multiplayer roots ever since, likely in an attempt to attract a wider audience. Now, with a third Dune film due out in December, the game’s arrival on consoles feels timely.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 we know less about. A sequel was something of a surprise when it was announced earlier in the year, and the question is how much it can build on the Diablo-like foundations of the original. The first game didn’t quite fulfil its promise, and the sequel aims to change that.

The Big Three Arrivals

Three major titles take center stage across September, with each one landing at a separate moment in the month.

• Gears of War: E-Day lands on 6th October, available on Xbox Series X/S, Handheld, PC and Cloud.
• Dune Awakening arrives on 22nd September, available on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC.
• Minecraft Dungeons 2 hits on 29th September, available on Cloud, Console, Handheld and PC.

The dates matter. Gears of War: E-Day lands last among the trio, but it does so on a day when the other two have already arrived. That ordering means players who want to take on all three won’t have to sit through the whole month waiting.

Co-op Additions to Game Pass Premium

The selection has been expanded with several multiplayer titles: Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Planet of Lana 2, Ninja Gaiden 4 and Keeper. Each of these is a solid game, and their co-op design makes them well suited to the kinds of gatherings that bring friends together for play.

• Marvel Cosmic Invasion comes to Game Pass Premium on 16th September, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Planet of Lana 2 joins Game Pass Premium on 16th September, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Routine arrives on 16th September, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Kernel Hearts lands on 17th September, on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Ninja Gaiden 4 joins Game Pass Premium on 17th September, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Ultimate Sheep Raccoon comes to Game Pass Premium on 16th September, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

Departures on 30th September

On 30th September, several major titles are leaving the service, among them the martial arts aging roguelike Sifu, Rebellion’s Fallout-adjacent Atomfall, and the creepy co-op horror Little Nightmares 2. The list also includes Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Little Rocket Lab, Sworn, and Terminull Brigade.

Full List of Arrivals

A large number of titles are scheduled to arrive on Game Pass Premium and Ultimate across several days in the middle part of September, and the complete schedule is lengthy.

• RuneScape: Dragonwilds arrives on 15th September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass.
• Marvel Cosmic Invasion arrives on 16th September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Planet of Lana 2 arrives on 16th September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Routine arrives on 16th September on Cloud, Console, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Ultimate Sheep Raccoon arrives on 16th September on Cloud, Console and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Kernel Hearts arrives on 17th September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass.
• Ninja Gaiden 4 arrives on 17th September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Dune Awakening arrives on 22nd September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass.
• Well Dweller arrives on 22nd September on Cloud, Console, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass.
• Mad King Redemption arrives on 23rd September on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 arrives on 25th September on Cloud, Console, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Minecraft Dungeons 2 arrives on 29th September on Cloud, Console, Handheld and PC, for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass.
• Keeper arrives on 2nd October on Cloud, Xbox Series X/S and PC, for Game Pass Premium; already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
• Gears of War: E-Day arrives on 6th October on Xbox Series X/S, Handheld, PC and Cloud, for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass.

What We Make of It

The second wave is strong indeed. Gears of War: E-Day carries the headline, and it’s a big deal for Xbox. The game traces the origins of the original Gears of War, following Marcus Fenix and his companions through the opening hours of the Locust invasion that would become Emergence Day.

The game began as a multiplayer-first survival MMO on PC, but over the last year it has been steadily redefined into something closer to a traditional single-player experience. The third Dune movie lands in December, which makes the shift feel planned rather than accidental. Whether the final product stands on its own merits is still an open question.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 is the surprise package. A sequel was not expected, and it arrives with the weight of building on the Diablo-like foundations of the original. The first game didn’t quite deliver on its promise, so the stakes are high.

The co-op additions in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Planet of Lana 2, Ninja Gaiden 4 and Keeper round out the list, giving players a range of options beyond the big three.

Among the titles that have left the service, two stand out: Atomfall and Little Nightmares 2. The other departure is Sifu, a martial arts aging roguelike, whose exit signals the close of a long run with the platform.

The Dates Matter

The dates are spread across the month, which means players won’t get everything at once. That’s a good thing, since it spreads the excitement out rather than concentrating it all in one week.

Day by day, the full schedule unfolds, and a second glance reveals the density of the list.

Final Word

The second wave hits hard, with the big three games delivering real value, and the co-op additions giving friends plenty to enjoy together. The departures show the service is constantly changing, yet the arrivals easily outweigh them.

October will keep players occupied, and the main uncertainty surrounds Gears of War: E-Day. That title establishes the narrative of the original Gears of War, and it carries a heavy weight of expectation. The verdict arrives on 6th October.

The dates are fixed, the schedule is settled, and the games are rolling out. This is a solid month for Xbox Game Pass members.

See the video the story is built around at Eurogamer.

Dune · Game Pass · Gears of War · Minecraft · Xbox