Xbox Game Pass April 2026 Wave 1 Brings Hades 2, Replaced, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Vampire Crawlers, and More
Microsoft has officially revealed the first wave of Xbox Game Pass additions for April 2026, and it is a notably busy lineup that mixes day one launches, catalog expansions, and tier reshuffling across the service. According to the official Xbox announcement published on April 7, 2026, the new wave includes headline arrivals such as Hades 2, Replaced, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Vampire Crawlers, and Kiln, while also moving several previously limited titles into broader subscription access.
One of the biggest takeaways from this update is that Xbox is continuing to use Game Pass not only as a launch vehicle for new releases, but also as a retention strategy through tier expansion. Several titles are not brand new to the service, but are now being made available to additional membership levels, particularly Game Pass Premium. That includes high profile titles such as The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Football Manager 26, Endless Legend 2, and FBC: Firebreak, showing that Microsoft is still actively reorganizing how value is distributed across the Game Pass stack.
Another notable shift involves DayZ, which is set to join PC Game Pass on April 8 while also being available across Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and Game Pass Essential. Microsoft also notes that Game Pass Essential subscribers will receive two more games added to their library on April 8, though the company did not specify those titles in the same announcement. That small line could still be meaningful for subscribers watching how Microsoft evolves the lower end of the Game Pass tier structure.
Here is the full first wave lineup as confirmed by Xbox:
As always, a new wave also means departures. Xbox confirmed that the following titles will leave the library on April 15, 2026: Ashen, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Grand Theft Auto V, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery, and Terra Invicta (Game Preview). For subscribers, GTA V is easily the most notable exit in this batch, and its removal will likely stand out just as much as the new arrivals for players who use Game Pass as their main rotating library.
From a broader strategy angle, this first April wave shows Xbox balancing mainstream pull with service depth. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare gives the lineup a heavyweight recognizable anchor, Hades 2 and Replaced strengthen the premium and indie appeal, and the tier expansions help Microsoft increase perceived value without relying only on brand new content. In practical terms, it is a strong content refresh that gives different subscriber segments something worth paying attention to.
Which April Game Pass addition are you most excited to jump into first: Hades 2, Replaced, or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare?
