Xbox Game Pass users can start playing Winds of Arcana: Ruination as part of their subscriptions beginning today. This is the first brand-new title to join the service in July 2026 and the 110th Xbox Game Pass release since the turn of the year.
The debut title from Bangalore-based indie studio Brewed Games, Winds of Arcana: Ruination is a dark fantasy metroidvania that follows Aryn, a mercenary searching cursed lands for signs of his missing comrades. Its core gameplay loop consists of 2.5D exploration, side-scrolling combat, strategizing with tools, weapons, spells, and upgrades, and the occasional boss fight, with the overall experience having a quest-based structure. Rather than a linear action game, Winds of Arcana: Ruination centers on a build-driven exploration loop, with players backtracking through an interconnected world, unlocking new routes, and shaping Aryn’s playstyle through different weapon-and-magic combinations.
Xbox Game Pass Losing 12 Games on July 15
Xbox Game Pass is suffering one of its largest exoduses in years on July 15, When a dozen titles are scheduled to leave the service.
Winds of Arcana: Ruination Joins Xbox Game Pass Alongside Series X/S Launch
1312 Interactive originally published Winds of Arcana: Ruination as a PC exclusive in November 2025. Nearly eight months later, the Indian indie Metroidvania arrived on Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Series X/S on July 6. Although some titles have quietly moved to lower Xbox Game Pass tiers since the start of the month, Winds of Arcana: Ruination is the first new game added to Microsoft’s subscription catalog in July 2026.
Winds of Arcana: Ruination is available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass subscribers. It is also optimized for Windows handhelds and can be streamed via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Play Anywhere program support is also part of the package, allowing Winds of Arcana to offer seamless cross-progression across Xbox platforms.
Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Games (Confirmed Release Dates Only)
|
Date |
Game |
Game Pass Tier(s) |
Platform(s) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jul 6 |
Winds of Arcana: Ruination |
Ultimate, PC, Premium |
Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC |
|
|
Jul 13 |
Ascend to Zero |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Jul 17 |
Fogpiercer |
Ultimate, PC |
PC |
Day-one release. |
|
Jul 21 |
The Planet Crafter |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one (Series X/S) release. |
|
Jul 28 |
Halo: Campaign Evolved |
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. |
|
Aug 27 |
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Sep 25 |
Valor Mortis |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Sep 29 |
Minecraft Dungeons 2 |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Oct 6 |
Gears of War: E-Day |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Oct 8 |
Forever Ago |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Feb 18 |
Persona 4 Revival |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
|
Feb 23 |
Fable |
Ultimate, PC |
Cloud, PC, Series X/S |
Day-one release. |
From February through June 2026, the first new Xbox Game Pass title of each month arrived within the first five days. July’s wait has therefore been slightly longer, though new additions are expected to pick up soon.
The July 2026 Wave 1 Xbox Game Pass lineup will likely be announced later today, July 6, or tomorrow, based on Microsoft’s recent content cadence. This month’s known roster already includes Ascend to Zero, Fogpiercer, The Planet Crafter, and Halo: Campaign Evolved.
