Four Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass on October 15: What You Need to Know

Xbox Game Pass will lose four titles on October 15, as Microsoft continues its regular rotation of content in the subscription service’s library.

Cocoon, a highly rated indie game, is leaving Xbox Game Pass.

Which Games Are Leaving Game Pass?

According to an update spotted by Pure Xbox, the following titles will be removed from Xbox Game Pass across cloud, console, and PC:

• Cocoon

• Core Keeper

• Donut County

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed

Subscribers still have a chance to purchase these games at a 20% discount before they exit the service. This is standard practice for Game Pass rotations, giving players the option to keep their progress without paying full price.

All Games Details

• Cocoon (Geometric Interactive / Annapurna Interactive) – A critically acclaimed puzzle-adventure created by former Limbo and Inside developers. Known for its orb-based nested world mechanic, Cocoon received rave reviews (88/100 on Metacritic) for its elegant design and dreamlike presentation. Interestingly, it’s also being added to PlayStation Plus Essential this month.

• Core Keeper (Pugstorm / Fireshine Games) – A 2D sandbox survival game often compared to Terraria and Minecraft. It supports up to 8-player co-op and blends mining, crafting, farming, and boss fights in a cozy underground setting. On Steam, it holds a “Very Positive” rating (91%) from over 53,000 players and 85/100 on Metacritic.

• Donut County (Ben Esposito / Annapurna Interactive) – A short but memorable physics-based puzzle game where you control an ever-growing hole that swallows objects, buildings, and eventually entire towns. Praised for its quirky humor and clever mechanics, it’s often described as a bite-sized indie gem. On Steam, it holds a “Very Positive” rating (92%).

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed (A Heartful of Games / Paramount Game Studios & Outright Games) – A family-friendly 3D beat ’em up inspired by the 2023 Mutant Mayhem film. Reviews were mixed (57% on Steam), but co-op play and colorful art direction made it a fun choice for younger audiences and TMNT fans.

What’s Coming

While losing games is never fun, October is still shaping up to be a strong month for Game Pass additions. Just yesterday, the service added over 100 games, including four titles like Hades and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for the Essential tier (formerly Core).

Upcoming day one titles include Sopa – Tale of the Stolen Potato and Little Rocket Lab on October 7, Ball x Pit on October 15, Keeper on October 17, and the highly anticipated Ninja Gaiden 4 on October 21.

Ninja Gaiden fans will likely be watching closely, especially since the previous trilogy was just cycled off Game Pass. The new entry serves as a direct sequel to Ninja Gaiden 3 and will also launch on PlayStation 5 and PC for those outside the Xbox ecosystem.

Subscribers also saw a price hike earlier this week, with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate jumping from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, its biggest increase yet. The move sparked backlash, with many fans expressing disappointment and even canceling subscriptions.