Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving Soon: Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint

Upcoming Removal of Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint

The Xbox Game Pass Leaving Soon section has confirmed that both Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition are getting removed, most likely on December 31. Xbox Game Pass games are removed from the service on the same two days every month: the 15th and the last day of the month. The most recent batch of games removed from Xbox Game Pass were Chained Echoes, Opus Magnum, Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator, and Rubber Bandits, all of which got the boot on December 15. Xbox Game Pass subscribers knew two weeks in advance that they would be losing those games thanks to Xbox's official blog post about it, but while there is no official post detailing the games leaving at the end of December, the app's Leaving Soon section has let the cat out of the bag. According to the Xbox Game Pass Leaving Soon section, Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition will both be getting removed in the near future. The most likely scenario is that both games will be removed on December 31, but there have been times when games have been put in the Leaving Soon section stick around a little longer than expected. With no official post to provide specifics, though, it's best that Xbox Game Pass subscribers just assume Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition are getting removed on December 31.

Promotional art of Monster Train

For those unfamiliar with the games, Monster Train is a deck-building game that has often been compared to Slay the Spire. Monster Train earned mostly positive reviews at the time of its original release in 2020, and so it's disappointing to see it getting removed from the Game Pass service. Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition, meanwhile, is unlikely to impact Game Pass subscribers as much since the base game is free-to-play and will still be easily accessible even after the Deluxe Edition is removed from Game Pass.

Naraka Bladepoint

Implications for Xbox Game Pass Subscribers

The upcoming removal of Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition from the Xbox Game Pass service has raised concerns among subscribers. While Monster Train, a popular deck-building game, has received positive reviews and garnered a loyal fan base, its removal from the Game Pass service means that subscribers will no longer have access to it without purchasing the game separately. This has disappointed many players who have enjoyed the game as part of their Game Pass subscription. On the other hand, the removal of Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition may not have a significant impact on subscribers, as the base game remains free-to-play and easily accessible even after the Deluxe Edition is removed from Game Pass. Despite this, the removal of these games highlights the dynamic nature of the Xbox Game Pass library, where games come and go, requiring subscribers to adapt to the changing lineup of available titles.

Reasons Behind the Lack of Official Announcement

The absence of an official announcement for the removal of Monster Train and Naraka Bladepoint - Deluxe Edition from the Xbox Game Pass service has raised questions among subscribers. It's rare for new Xbox Game Pass games to be added in the second half of December, and since Microsoft has no games to announce for the service, it may be hesitant to shine a spotlight on the games leaving. The lack of an official announcement may also indicate that Microsoft is planning a second wave Game Pass reveal for December 2023 and has chosen to hold off on sharing it with the public. However, the absence of a formal announcement has left subscribers speculating about the reasons behind the lack of transparency regarding the games leaving the service. Regardless of the reasons, the absence of an official announcement has left Xbox Game Pass subscribers uncertain about the future lineup of games on the service and has sparked discussions about the communication practices between Microsoft and its subscribers.