Another Eight Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (April 15)

Why? Such a bizarre move.

EA does it with their service and I don’t know why. Leave old games up. Surely that’s the benefit of a service like this. Expand on games that cost you nothing. Have a proper archive of all your old games.

I hope companies start sorting out licenses so that games stay on digital store fronts and in these services longer. It’s a shame the old Forzas are gone forever. I’m still salty I didn’t buy Horizon 1 rally stuff.

I feel like GPU is having a little lull right now.

So we're seeing exclusives removed now?

That's pretty screwed up. Thought the idea was to help preserve these things. I may as well end my Gamepass sub and go back to Xbox Live.

Everyone should play Quantum Break. Orders better than Control and the live action accompanying parts are fantastic.

I don't know the reason - but it could be just to make room for something 'new'. Removing their own games may also prompt some sales of those games too as people buy to 'keep'.

As for 'old' Forza games, they don't really have a Story and its not as if the newer games don't offer the same basic game-play loop. No doubt they don't license the cars for that long either as they expect a 'newer' game to replace it. In many ways, these are like Fifa - basically obsolete as soon as the new game comes out. I doubt anyone plays Fifa 09 or Fifa 15 for example today with newer Games on the market.

If people aren't really playing QB now, then why keep it on GP if they can offer something else in its place that is being played.

Quantum Break is fantastic and I loved the included TV series.

Microsoft might've given the rights to Remedy. Quantum Break could be getting a rerelease later for PlayStation with a cloud version for Switch.

I saw the Quantum Break rumor yesterday so i installed it and started playing as it's been in the backlog for some time now. Finished chapter 1 and gotta say it's a great story. I was caught off guard that it's a legitimate show and game combined but it's good.

@UnusedBabyWipes if its going to another system its MS who is doing it.... as 0f 2018 MS still owned the IP and remedy was waiting for a approval for a sequel from MS, and since there was neve any news i highly doubt MS sold the IP as they seem to be in IP collecting mode as of late....my thought is they have a sequel being made and this will make a return to gamepass when they announce that sequel....just my thought since MS still likely owns the IP......

@Stocksy Simple.

Subscribers to the service determine how much money is in the pot to pay the developers.

The developers get a periodic cut based on how much their game is played.

This cut comes from the subscription fees.

If a game doesn't get played, rather than help generate subscription revenue, it does the opposite. It costs to be there.

Therefore, removed from service.

Sometimes it can be removed for licence and agreement reasons, but once a game is on, it mostly stays or goes for reasons set out as part of supply and demand agreements and conditions.

Alan wake was first removed due to licencing issues with music then permanently removed because Microsoft sold the rights back to Remedy for 2.5 million.

im wondering of they did the same for Quantum break

Quantum break is a perfect evening game one chapter an hour long then half hour episode. next night another chapter another episode done by the end of the week

my favourite xbox one game

@Sebatrox Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hearing on Twitter as well. That it’s licensed songs, which also makes me wonder if it will be delisted all together like the older Forza games.

So Microsoft lied to us about keeping 1st party games on GP.
It's not a huge deal now, but it could be when you've bought DLC for a game, and then they take it off.
If Quantum Break actually does go off GP, I'll think twice about buying DLC for MS games.

by the way quantum break isnt a 1st part game as they dont own the studio that made it.

Its a second party game

Similar thing happened with a double fine published game called Knights and bikes. It was published after xbox owned them but it left game pass too after a bit.

@Savage_Joe they didnt give alan wake back they sold it to remedy for millions of pounds

if remedy have got back the IP that would mean a multiplatform remaster of quantum break like alan wake would be next

@Dsswoosh I meant the Xbox owned game.

I’m quite aware how 3rd party contracts work.

The main reason EA remove games is to send the players to the newest version.
If you wanna try and give lessons out.

It would make sense to sell the publishing rights to remedy. Their choices were pay a lot of money for remedy to make a sequel to what is often seen as a failure or let this sit there in gamepass. Like I said in the square Enix article, the usage stats are very clear for xbox and devs. They know exactly how many people played quantum break through gamepass. I'm guessing it is a small number.

I'm glad they changed to the buy studios and own the ip method of publishing.

If they didn't sell it back, maybe they are planning to recycle it back into GP later. Getting it back onto the recently added might lead to more downloads.

I know it's a great problem to have but there are too many games to play!!!

I'm already trying to play through Wonderful 101 before it leaves PS Plus, now I also want to get through Quantum Break, I'm almost done with Wo Long, and just started Last of Us 2 after the show ended. I also want to play through Life is Strange but that's probably not in the cards. And had to drop off Mario Kart despite living the new balance patch.

I'd like to believe it's coming back with an updated/newer version of the Northlight Engine, bringing it up in quality to that of Control, but I've got a bad feeling about this...

its short can be done in under 10 hours that includes watching all the tv episodes

Try it if you haven't, it only takes 10 hours. I think it's a better game than Control, which didn't tell an actual story, but did have pretty good lore. QB suffered from launching on Xbox during a time when people just didn't really give anything on the platform a chance, but much like Sunset Overdrive it was arguably some of the studio's best work.

If Control was a shotgun blast of lore that fired more storylines at us than it ever intended to follow through on, QB was a sniper shot of tight storytelling. You never had to backtrack through areas full of Hiss you had cleared dozens of times. You never got red herrings, like her brother was the entire reason Jesse went into the Oldest House and they just sort of resolve it off screen with a throwaway line after hinting that they might be different manifestations of the same person.

QB delivers a concise plot that is carried by great performances from a stellar cast in a linear act by act structure that just plays better overall than the fever dream that was Control. I think Control's worst sin was that there really are no consequences. The hiss is still in the house, Jesse is still the director, everything is basically the same as it was when you start the game, nothing you do changes anything.

In QB there are choices that matter, and you see those choices borne out in the show. It attempted to blend the medium with film in a way I had never experienced, and without playing QB I probably would never have given games like Late Shift, Bandersnatch, Telling Lies, or Immortality a chance. It changed the way I look at what games can be.

I have bought The Long Dark on Steam early Access. I bought it when I had an Xbox One. I bought it on PS4. I will be go to hell if I...Yea I will buy it again.

@Gloki_junior as much as I love gamepass there's a lot of rubbish on there and its starting flood the service now

Great game glad I have the physical version to replay. Shawn Ashmore said he is interested in doing a sequel but Remedy is working on Alan Wake 2, new Control games and Max Payne remake so cant see a sequel happening anytime soon

Never completed QB but I own the Xbox One version.

What? Quantum Break??? A XBox exclusive leaving Game Pass?

Forza games sure the car, music, advertising licenses so always get those cheap on disk.

Quantum Break though I assume the TV show side, the videos that play, the likeness of the characters maybe? Whatever licensing reason. Either way got the physical, I haven't finished it and while during and odd time I don't hate it I just haven't given it enough time. But it does a fairly good job for what it is of powers, a third person shooter, cinematic game (I don't like those hence I don't care for Sony's first parties of that type these days sick of them honestly but I mean it's something interesting on Xbox One you don't get often for sure).

I have wondered for other IPs of the first party type as I assumed they wouldn't be taken off. If they are IPs that regularly get focus they are fine but other one offs or old Xbox IPs that they barely care about yeah I wonder there what the agreements or not renewal there is there.

I mean Blinx I thought wouldn't even be available as Microsoft gave up on the license but it's on the store and has been the whole OG Xbox program time so eh on that one (Blinx 2 never gets any presence anymore because oh we didn't market it well well that's your fault in 2004 a week after Halo 2 Microsoft not the game's fault so understandable but 1 for 360 OG Xbox BC sure but Xbox One/Series X I'm glad it's on there but the messaging of the IP made it confusing).

Even then PGR 1&2 backwards compatibility still surprises me on 360. Played them in 2020 and while glad I can I wonder what the situation there is as many Forza games aren't backwards compatible but the licenses are more for the games being sellable so I don't understand there.

So for some things sure I get the licenses. Many big IPs will always be up there. Gamepass is a service not a backwards compatibility and new games preservation effort it never was and never will be. Games that are dead are dead and those going to be dead will go dead and be only whatever the case of the disk releases from there and Gamepass/digital licenses are what they are.

So time to put it on sale 85% off

I sure hope this is a case of music licensing and the TV part implications rather than Microsoft selling the QB IP to Remedy. Instead should just let one of their many studios to work on a sequel. Sony has such a notorious iron grip on all their IP'S, they'll never sell one off....

Wow holy hell... There are sooo many comments on this article. I was reading them but after about 7 I scrolled and saw just how many there are and was like, Yeahhhh I am not going to read all these to make sure I don't comment on something someone else already commented on haha.

BUTTTT... Long story short. Quantum Break is only leaving Game Pass (when normally Xbox first party games/exclusives do not leave Game Pass) because the game as a whole is GETTING DE-LISTED FROM THE STORE.

So Xbox can't really leave the game on Xbox Game Pass when it is about to not even be available for purchase at all.

I could go more into detail, but in order to not write a novel sized comment. It's simple as that, the game will no longer be available on Xbox at all, so of course it will no longer be available on game pass.

will miss out on Life is Strange Two Colours as only up just started Before the Storm.

Anyone know if it has any sort of save transfer as if not may just play it on PS+, or buy for Steam Deck

Played a good bit of Quantum Break, probably over 60% but it was getting a bit samey at that point. Was really enjoying it but eventually got bored with it. It's worth a try for anyone thinking of playing it before it leaves the service.

Shame Quantum break is being removed, but thankfully you can get a physical disc copy (remember those?) for about a fiver second hand.

Remember that NOTHING is on Game Pass forever. Even if Microsoft would like it to be if there's ever any weird legal issues, or it winds up costing them too much then they'll take the game off.

I played Quantum Break when it came to Game Pass, it was a decent game and the accompanying TV show was decent too. Definitely check it out now if you can, before it leaves the service.

Odd stuff. Most likely some licence issue with Quantum Break. But then MS have been sat on the IP for 7 years and done nothing with it… so, if there’s a silver lining, they’ve hopefully sold the IP back to Remedy and we’ll get something new out of it. 🤞

@BAMozzy A game isn't taking up space for something else as they technically can have as many games as they want. They've also said that exclusives are supposed to stay on there forever, outside of games that have license issues like Forza. There's always new subscribers and such that haven't played a lot of the games, so even if it's old and you've played it years ago, there's people out there that haven't. That's why there's a point to always keep their games on there, even if they are old. Once again besides the fact that they promised they would.

As for Quantum Break though, there could be a legitimate reason like a licensing issue or that Remedy bought the rights back from Microsoft. Or it could be an error. We'll see, but to excuse them for removing it otherwise would be pretty ridiculous.

Great, Gamepass making the same moves HBO Max is these days.

If it was a licence issue it would be delisted from sale as well as its no longer allowed to be sold due to expired licences

I haven't heard a sole talk about Quantum Break until this article. That might be the reason it's being removed, nobody was playing it

3 things: Is Quantum Break a truly Microsoft owned IP? As far as I know they published it but where does it say that they own it for sure?
Plus, if they own it, why the hell didn't it ever appear on PC Gamepass even though the game is on pc? Makes no sense at all.
And, where did Microsoft say it's leaving Gamepass? Which site? In the list of games leaving on Gamepass, it's not there. Is this a magic rumour?

@Tsushima I’m not worried about QB either, have it physical too but haven’t completed it yet.

Now that you mention it, MP 1&2 Remake is another one I’m looking forward to. Release is probably far away. Warranted remake imo. Remedy has a huge workload with maybe 5 or 6 games in development but currently I’m only interested in their SP stuff.

It's really weird Quantum Break, would be removed, how can a first party title be removed?!

It's also extremely weird timing to remove it immediately after Lance's death. He was the star of that game by far, I'm sure these things are planned months in advance, but, it's a game that's been there for almost a decade and they pull it a month after his death....seems....sus?

Would be great if the article could mention potential licensing issues. Wouldn't be the first game to be delisted and if it's a licensing issue, then Microsoft can't do anything about it.

If this is in fact true, then I hope the game will be on sale again before it gets delisted. Would be a bit annoying to delist it at full price while it seems to be on sale on a regular basis (almost always 75% off, according to Deku Deals). But we'll see.

Will start quantum break this week, almost finished Bayonetta 3 on switch . Next game QB, before it's gone.

Didn't like Quantum Break, found it mediocre. Not on the same level as Max Payne/Alan Wake.

@KilloWertz Quantum Break isn't a First Party developed game for a start - its a third Party made game published by Xbox with 3rd party licenced music in it too from what I understand.

I know it was Exclusive to Xbox and they may own the Publishing Rights, like with Sunset Overdrive but Remedy were not a First Party Studio and these may have some time limit on those Rights and 3rd Party music licences so I don't necessarily expect ALL Xbox Exclusives to remain in Game Pass indefinitely.

As for replacing games, as Xbox builds up more and more 'first' party content - either the number of games available needs to 'grow' or we get fewer and fewer third party games coming, Ideally, I'd prefer to see more games in the service, but I'd rather see 'newer' games than keeping 'OLD' games on the service just because they were first party if there is a limit on the number of games they can offer.

@Savage_Joe Sony never owned Crash or Spyro - they were owned by Universal Interactive and when Sony acquired Naughty Dog, they didn't acquire the IP.

As they never owned those IP's, they could never sell them. Obviously both ND and Insomniac are now owned by Sony but that's why Naughty Dog created Jak & Daxter as both they and Sony never owned Crash or Spyro...

Am i the only one to noticing that they removes alot of games but only add a fews each month,the last two year was better in additions to counter the removals. Super disapointing they starting to remove first party as well their own games.

@Fishticon Quantum Break is not a 1st party game. Its a 3rd party game that was made exclusive. There is a big difference.

@RIghteousNixon QB is a Xbox Games Studio game, which we were lead to believe were permanent to the GP service.
But after doing some research, I found out it's due to poor journalism that we have this MYTH in the community.
Xbox has never at any point in time said that first party Xbox Game Studios games are permanent on Xbox Game Pass.

I wish Xbox did wat Playstation does. If a game leaves PS+, so long as ya added it to ya library ya can still download an play it. My PS library has literally hundreds of games in there.

@jordan1992 didn't even know that, really good one

@BAMozzy I responded before reading the article today about Quantum Break returning soon, so I will edit out most of my reply, but leave this...

Clarification that no Xbox exclusive will ever leave Game Pass came directly from Major Nelson 5 years ago. To anybody thinking it's a myth, it is not.

@jordan1992 wait are you sure ps plus extra and premium games work that way or are you just referring to the Essential freebies? Now never worked that way.

Does it say it anywhere? I'd consider upgrading if it were intended to work.

@XBOX045 yeah, once the games added to ya library it’s yours.

@NEStalgia as long as it’s in ya library ya can download an play. Google it, it tells ya on there.

@Fishticon "January 25, 2018: Xbox's Aaron Greenberg and Major Nelson have now confirmed that Microsoft Studios titles will be permanently available as part of Xbox Game Pass."

Both also confirmed this on their Twitter accounts. Quantum Break is only being removed temporarily due to expiring licences for some of the music, so that needs to be renegotiated first, then Quantum Break will be made available on Game Pass again.

Another recent example of this temporary removal thing was Goat Simulator (yes, I know it's not 1st party but bear with me), which left Game Pass for about a month as the deal had expired. Xbox then renegotiated the deal and Goat Simulator is now back on Game Pass again.