Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Eight Other Titles Depart Xbox Game Pass on October 15

Key points

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG and 2025 Game of the Year winner, is leaving Xbox Game Pass on October 15, 2026.
• The full list of departing titles includes A Plague Tale: Requiem, Pacific Drive, The Casting of Frank Stone, Evil West, Crime Scene Cleaner, Donut County, Nova Roma (Game Preview), and Superball.
• Game Pass members receive a 20% discount on these titles in the Xbox Store until the removal date, with Clair Obscur dropping from $49.99 to $37.49.
• A completionist run of Clair Obscur takes over 60 hours, while the main story can be finished in under 30 hours, leaving little time for new players to finish before the deadline.
• September 2026 saw 18 total game removals from Game Pass, including major titles like The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, setting a precedent for significant monthly rotations.

Background

Xbox Game Pass regularly rotates its library, adding new titles while removing older ones. In September 2026, the service saw 18 total removals, including high-profile titles such as The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Sifu, and Frostpunk 2. This October rotation follows that pattern, but the departure of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands out due to its status as a recent Game of the Year winner and its day-and-date launch on the platform in April 2025.

How outlets are covering it

Kotaku emphasizes the urgency for players to finish Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 before October 15, noting its unique dodge and parry mechanics and twist ending. GameSpot highlights the inconvenience for horror fans losing The Casting of Frank Stone during October and notes the 20% discount for members. Insider Gaming focuses on the surprise of seeing two major names, Clair Obscur and A Plague Tale: Requiem, in the removal list. Gagadget provides practical advice, noting that Clair Obscur’s long completion time makes purchasing it a better option for those who haven’t started, while also mentioning rumors of a potential Switch 2 port that would not carry over from Xbox purchases.

Why it matters

The departure of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 marks the end of a significant day-and-date release on Xbox Game Pass, affecting players who relied on the subscription to access one of 2025’s best games. The 20% discount for members offers a financial incentive to purchase the game, but the short window before removal creates pressure for players to decide quickly whether to finish or buy the title. This rotation also highlights the ongoing challenge for Game Pass subscribers to keep up with a rapidly changing library, especially for long-form games that require significant time to complete.

What to watch

Xbox Game Pass subscribers should check the 'Leaving Soon' tab in the Xbox app to see which titles are departing in October. Players who wish to retain access to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or other exiting titles should purchase them before October 15 to take advantage of the 20-25% discount. New Game Pass titles for October’s Wave 1 are expected to be announced soon, potentially including major releases that will replace the departing games. Players who are considering a Switch 2 port of Clair Obscur should note that purchases on Xbox will not carry over to Nintendo’s console, so they may prefer to wait for the port if handheld play is their priority.