Xbox Game Pass Adds One of 2026's Most Anticipated Games

Xbox Game Pass has added Subnautica 2 to its content catalog, offering it to subscribers across multiple tiers. This is the eighth title to reach Microsoft’s subscription service in May 2026 and the 80th Xbox Game Pass release since the beginning of the year.

The original Subnautica enjoys a reputation as one of the best survival games ever created, and its 2019 spin-off, Subnautica: Below Zero, also launched to positive reviews. The two titles had amassed more than 18.5 million lifetime sales as of February 2026. Meanwhile, Subnautica 2 has been the most wishlisted game on Steam since September 2025, according to SteamDB data, positioning Unknown Worlds Entertainment’s latest title as one of the most anticipated games of 2026.

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Subnautica 2 Early Access Now Available on Xbox Game Pass

The early access version of Subnautica 2 is officially available on the Xbox Series X/S and PC as of May 14 at 11am EDT. The open-world survival crafting game has also joined Microsoft’s subscription service on day one, making it available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members. First-party Xbox titles typically take six months to a year to trickle down to the Premium tier of Xbox Game Pass, but because Subnautica 2 is a third-party release, it remains to be seen whether it will follow that pattern. At the very least, Microsoft’s typical release cadence with third-party games suggests it will not reach Xbox Game Pass Premium before November 2026.

The first two Subnautica games were officially single-player experiences. However, the original still made waves in PC multiplayer circles thanks to a popular co-op mod called Nitrox. Subnautica 2 has co-op built in, offering an optional multiplayer experience for up to four people.

All Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Titles with Confirmed Release Dates

Date	Game	Game Pass Tier(s)	Platform(s)	Notes
May 14	Subnautica 2	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Game preview; day-one release.
May 14	DOOM: The Dark Ages	Premium	Cloud, Handheld, PC, Series X/S	Available on XGP Ultimate and PC GP since May 2025.
May 19	Forza Horizon 6	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.
May 21	Beastro	Ultimate	Series X/S	Day-one release.
May 27	Echo Generation 2	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.
May 28	Crashout Crew	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.
Jul 13	Ascend to Zero	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.
Aug 4	Beast of Reincarnation	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.
Aug 14	Grave Seasons	Ultimate, PC	Cloud, PC, Series X/S	Day-one release.

While Subnautica 2 is not yet available on Xbox Game Pass Premium, the middle tier of the service added one new title today: Doom: The Dark Ages. The latest installment in the long-running first-person shooter series turns one tomorrow, May 15, meaning today was the second-to-last opportunity for Microsoft to stay true to its promise of bringing first-party titles to the Premium tier within 12 months of their original release.

The next May 2026 addition to Xbox Game Pass is scheduled for the 19th, when Forza Horizon 6 launches. Subscribers who pay an additional $60 for its Premium Edition upgrade can start playing on May 15, when its early access period officially begins. That purchase will also carry over to the full game for anyone who cancels their subscription but later decides to buy Forza Horizon 6. Regarding the next wave of Xbox Game Pass releases, the Wave 2 lineup for May 2026 is expected to be revealed on May 18 or 19, with the latter date being the more likely, based on Microsoft’s recent announcement patterns.