Microsoft has revealed the first wave of games arriving on Xbox Game Pass in November, headlined by Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 arriving on day one for subscribers. The slate mixes blockbuster releases with a clutch of day-one indie and mid‑tier titles — but it also lands amid recent tier rebranding and price increases that shape who can play what and when.
Headliner: Black Ops 7 comes day one
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the marquee addition, launching into Game Pass on November 14 for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, the game promises a large multiplayer offering — 16 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch — a co‑op campaign and a new Round‑Based Zombies chapter set in the Dark Aether. The title follows a widely followed beta period and will be available across cloud, console and PC.
Day‑one indies and other notable arrivals
Microsoft’s November Wave 1 also leans into smaller, distinctive releases that will be available to subscribers on or near their launch dates. Highlights include:
- November 5: Dead Static Drive (Cloud, Console, PC) — described by its developer as “Grand Theft Cthulhu,” this indie survival‑horror road‑trip arrives on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- November 5: Sniper Elite: Resistance (Cloud, Console, PC) — added to Game Pass Premium, the tactical third‑person entry supports co‑op campaign play.
- November 6: Egging On (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — a platformer in which you play as a fragile egg; available to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- November 6: Whiskerwood (PC) — a mouse‑focused city‑builder on Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass.
- November 7: Voidtrain (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) — an interdimensional train survival game arriving on Ultimate, Premium and PC tiers.
- November 11: Great God Grove, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, and Pigeon Simulator — a mix of puzzle‑comedy, four‑player co‑op Tomb Raider and a co‑op extraction game across various Game Pass tiers.
- November 12: Relic Hunters Legend and Winter Burrow — a looter‑shooter RPG and a cozy survival sim, respectively.
- If you want day‑one access to flagship releases like Black Ops 7, Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass is required.
- Smaller indies and niche titles in this wave present low‑risk ways to sample new games without buying them outright — a core value proposition for many subscribers.
- Keep an eye on the mid‑November removals if you’re partway through a Game Pass title; the 20% discount window is the standard way to retain leaving games.
For Microsoft’s official rundown of titles and platforms, see the Xbox announcement: Xbox Wire.
What’s leaving — and how to keep them
Midmonth removals are also scheduled: six games will depart Game Pass on November 15. Titles leaving include S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Frostpunk, Football Manager 2024 (and its console edition), Spirittea and Blacksmith Master (Game Preview). Subscribers who want to keep those games can purchase them at up to a 20% discount before they exit the library.
Pricing, tiers and subscriber reaction
The November lineup arrives after Microsoft rebranded some Game Pass tiers and raised prices on the highest tier. Game Pass Ultimate is now priced higher than in past years — a change that affects access to day‑one releases. Several of November’s biggest debuts, including Black Ops 7, are restricted to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch, which has prompted mixed reaction among subscribers: enthusiasm for the breadth of content, and frustration from those who say the higher cost limits access to the most anticipated releases.
Some players have also expressed disappointment about the timed availability of certain titles and the midmonth removals, particularly in the case of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, which left the library ahead of its wider platform rollouts.
What this means for players
Takeaway
November’s first Game Pass wave balances a tentpole franchise arriving day one with a selection of quirky indie and mid‑tier games that showcase why many players value the subscription. At the same time, subscription changes and price increases are reshaping which players can access the biggest launches immediately, making tier choice and timing more important than ever.