Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 brings another packed run of releases, including Kernel Hearts on September 17, Dune: Awakening on September 22, Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29 and Gears of War: E-Day on October 6. Microsoft has also confirmed several games moving into additional Game Pass tiers during the same window.
The key thing this month is that not every line in the announcement means the same thing. Some games are genuine day-one releases, some are entering Game Pass for the first time on Xbox, and others are moving into Premium or Essential. The table below separates those changes so you can see what is actually new for your plan.
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 games
| Game | Date | Game Pass change |
|---|---|---|
| Kernel Hearts | September 17 | Day one, Ultimate and PC Game Pass |
| Ninja Gaiden 4 | September 17 | Now with Premium |
| Dune: Awakening | September 22 | Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass |
| Well Dweller | September 22 | Day one, Ultimate and PC Game Pass |
| Mad King Redemption | September 23 | Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | September 25 | Now with Premium |
| Minecraft Dungeons II | September 29 | Day one, Ultimate and PC Game Pass |
| Keeper | October 2 | Now with Premium |
| Gears of War: E-Day | October 6 | Day one, Ultimate and PC Game Pass |
What is day one in Wave 2?
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 has four especially notable day-one launches: Kernel Hearts, Well Dweller, Minecraft Dungeons II and Gears of War: E-Day. Those games enter the service on their release dates rather than being added later.
Minecraft Dungeons II arrives September 29, while Gears of War: E-Day lands October 6. Both are first-party Xbox releases and are included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from launch.
Dune Awakening joins Game Pass September 22
Dune: Awakening is one of the biggest catalogue additions in Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2. It arrives September 22 across cloud, Xbox Series X|S, supported handheld devices and PC, with Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass all named.
Paid Deluxe and Ultimate Editions offer earlier access, but September 22 is the confirmed Game Pass date. Subscribers do not need to buy the Standard Edition just to enter the base game once that entitlement goes live.
Black Ops 6 moves into Game Pass Premium
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is not a completely new Game Pass title in this announcement. Instead, September 25 marks its move into Game Pass Premium.
That distinction is important when reading Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 because Microsoft now uses these monthly posts to announce both new additions and tier expansions.
Sea of Thieves Season 21 is also part of the update
The Wave 2 announcement also highlights Sea of Thieves Season 21, which starts September 17. A free-play weekend runs September 17 to 21 with no subscription required, and Talk Like a Pirate Day brings the new Parley Pennant plus earnable Parley Proficiency Sails.
This is an update rather than a new Game Pass game, but it is one of the more useful extras hidden beneath the main catalogue list.
What leaves Game Pass on September 30?
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 also confirms a September 30 departure list. Atomfall, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Little Nightmares 2 Enhanced Edition, Little Rocket Lab, Sifu, SOPA Tale of the Stolen Potato, Sworn and Terminull Brigade are all scheduled to leave.
If you are midway through any of those games, September 30 is the date to work around. Buying a departing title is the way to keep access after it leaves the catalogue.
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 is most useful to check against the live store listing if your plan, device or region differs from the standard setup described above.
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 is most useful to check against the live store listing if your plan, device or region differs from the standard setup described above.
Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 is therefore a mix of true launches, major catalogue additions and tier expansions rather than one single type of release.
Official Xbox Game Pass information
You can check the current library and plan details through the official Xbox website. Xbox Game Pass September 2026 Wave 2 runs beyond the end of September because Keeper and Gears of War: E-Day are included in this announcement despite arriving in early October.
