As it does every week, Xbox has officially turned 5 paid, premium games completely free for the weekend through August 9. Xbox owners should be sure to hop in and enjoy the games, as Xbox’s Free Play Days promotion can be a tad underrated (and sometimes overwhelmed by the number of additions to Xbox Game Pass).
Hopping into these Xbox games also could not be simpler, as fans simply need to navigate to the subscriptions tab of the Xbox console on the store and scroll down to Free Play Days. Sometimes Xbox requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription to play these games, but there’s usually a handful of Free for All games, all of which are noted below.
Xbox Free Play Days Game List (August 6-August 9)
The Xbox Free Play Days games for August 6 through August 9 are Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands, Sports Renovations, and Wax Heads. NBA 2K26 is available from August 7 until August 14. The Ghost Recon games and NBA 2K26 are currently available in certain versions of Xbox Game Pass, so it’s clear this weekend is targeting non-subscribers for the most part. That said, if anyone plays these games, enjoys them, and wants to keep them forever, beyond the August 9 expiry date, then discounts are typically available. To help players make the most out of this Free Weekend promotion, further details on each game are below, including store links.
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Free for All)
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands (Free for All)
- Sports Renovations (Xbox Game Pass subscription required)
- NBA 2K26 (Free for All, August 7-August 14)
- Wax Heads (2-hour trial for All during this Free Play Days)
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint is a tactical third-person shooter that puts players in the role of a Ghost stranded on the fictional island of Auroa, where they must survive against the rogue military faction known as the Wolves, who are led by beloved actor Jon Bernthal. The tactical element ensures players must focus on stealth, strategy, different weapons, gadgets, and a variety of other options to survive in this open-world game on Xbox.
- Release Date: October 4, 2019
- Genre: Open-World Tactical Shooter
- Developer: Ubisoft Paris
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Metascore (Xbox): 56, Mixed or Average
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? The main story is 18-20 hours, so it’s possible
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $59.99–>$5.99
- Xbox Store Link: Play Ghost Recon Breakpoint free on Xbox
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Ghost Recon Wildlands
Breakpoint’s predecessor, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands is a tactical third-person shooter set in a fictional Bolivia where players must face the Santa Blanca drug cartel in Ubisoft’s open-world structure. While both it and Breakpoint feature open worlds, Wildlands leans more into it than the tactical elements and vice versa. Still, Ghost Recon Wildlands is designed around creating unpredictable combat situations, with players able to sneak into bases, launch coordinated assaults, or create chaos with the game’s large sandbox of tools and vehicles.
- Release Date: March 7, 2017
- Genre: Open-World Tactical Shooter
- Developer: Ubisoft Paris
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Metascore (Xbox): 76, Generally Favorable
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? The main story is around 27 hours, so it’s doable but hard-pressed
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $49.99–>$4.99
- Xbox Store Link: Play Ghost Recon Wildlands on Xbox for Free
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Sports Renovations
Breaking away from the wilds of Ubisoft’s open-world games, Sports Renovations is a narrative-driven simulation game where players restore abandoned sports facilities like gyms, courts, and pitches. They can only do so by laboring away under capitalism and completely repairs to then, one day, become rich enough quick enough not to lose their hometown basketball court. Alongside the renovation work, players can uncover sports history through collectibles, expand their headquarters, and complete side quests in a story-driven journey focused on preserving the memories behind old sporting venues.
- Release Date: March 27, 2025
- Genre: Simulation
- Developer: Goat Gamez
- Publisher: Dear Villagers
- Metascore: N/A for Xbox, 69 for PC (Mixed or Average)
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? At 10 hours, it should be pretty easy to do.
- Price and discount information, if applicable: N/A
- Xbox Store Link: Play Sports Renovations for Free on Xbox
Free Xbox Play Days Game: NBA 2K26
Sports Renovations is a tactical pick to go alongside NBA 2K26, a basketball simulation game. The latest entry in 2K’s long-running basketball franchise brings updated gameplay, new features, and expanded modes focused on both realistic NBA action and the fantasy of building a basketball career. Players can take control of their favorite teams and stars in traditional NBA games or create their own player in MyCAREER, while the game also features MyTEAM, allowing players to build a fantasy roster with NBA legends and current stars, along with returning modes like MyNBA for managing a franchise and The W for women’s basketball. There’s a lot on the court, in other words.
- Release Date: September 5, 2025
- Genre: Basketball Simulation
- Developer: Visual Concepts
- Publisher: 2K
- Metascore (Xbox): 82, Generally Favorable
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? Beating NBA 2K26 depends on how someone plays it, but by and large, the answer is a solid maybe thanks to the extra time.
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $69.99 –> $55.99
- Xbox Store Link: Play NBA 2K26 for Free on Xbox (Once It Goes Live)
Free Xbox Play Days Game: Wax Heads
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative simulation game where players take on the role of a new employee at Repeater Records, a struggling record store trying to keep its place in the local music scene. Players spend their days helping quirky customers discover the perfect albums by piecing together clues about their tastes, exploring the store’s handcrafted collection, and learning the stories behind different bands and records. Outside of customer interactions, players can get to know their coworkers, uncover musical mysteries, customize the shop, and help rebuild the community surrounding the store.
- Release Date: May 5, 2026
- Genre: Cozy-Punk Narrative Sim
- Developer: Patattie Games
- Publisher: Curve Games
- Metascore (Xbox): 79, Generally Favorable
- Can you beat it before the Free Play Days Promotion ends? Limited by Trial, so no
- Price and discount information, if applicable: $14.99–>$11.99
- Xbox Store Link: Play Wax Heads for Free on Xbox
Source: Xbox Wire
