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This is now a historical release announcement rather than a current “coming soon” schedule. Game Pass catalogs change by time, region, plan, and platform; verify each title’s current listing before subscribing.
The September 2024 Game Pass schedule
Megan Spurr, Xbox Game Pass senior community lead, announced the second wave of September 2024 additions on Xbox Wire. The three principal strategy releases were:
| Game | Game Pass date | Platforms listed in the announcement | Eligible tiers named | Day one? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wargroove 2 | September 19, 2024 | Cloud, console, PC | Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass | No; it had already released elsewhere |
| Frostpunk 2 | September 20, 2024 | PC | Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass | Yes |
| Ara: History Untold | September 24, 2024 | PC | Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass | Yes |
Independent contemporaneous coverage from Gematsu and VGC reported the same schedule.
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- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
What each game offers
Wargroove 2
Wargroove 2 is a colorful, turn-based tactics game built around scenario battles. Its campaign adds new commanders, while creation tools let players make and share maps, cutscenes, and full campaigns. The September placement covered cloud, Xbox console, and PC, making it the most broadly accessible of the three additions and the natural choice for players who want shorter battles, multiplayer, or user-generated content.
Frostpunk 2
Frostpunk 2 arrived on PC Game Pass on its launch day, September 20, 2024. Set 30 years after the blizzard in the first game, it casts you as a Steward governing a struggling post-apocalyptic city. Severe weather, scarce resources, population demands, and rival political factions all compete for attention. The announcement listed it for PC only; it should not be presented as a confirmation of an Xbox-console Game Pass version.
Rank #2
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
Ara: History Untold
Ara: History Untold launched into PC Game Pass on September 24, 2024. Developed by Oxide Games and published by Xbox Game Studios, it is a historical grand-strategy game about developing a nation through exploration, culture, diplomacy, technology, and competition with rival powers. It is the most direct fit for players who enjoy long campaigns of empire building and historical strategy. The announcement listed Ara for PC, not console.
Which players benefited most?
- Choose Wargroove 2 for turn-based tactical combat, approachable presentation, multiplayer, and tools for creating your own content.
- Choose Frostpunk 2 for a demanding city builder centered on survival, political decisions, resource pressure, and moral trade-offs.
- Choose Ara: History Untold for extended historical campaigns involving nation-building, diplomacy, cultural development, exploration, and technological progress.
These are different strategy experiences rather than three versions of the same game, so the strongest choice depends on whether you prefer individual battles, crisis management, or a long-form grand-strategy campaign.
Rank #3
- GAME PASS ULTIMATE: Play new games on day one, and enjoy hundreds of high-quality games on console, PC, and cloud. Game Pass Ultimate also includes online console multiplayer, EA Play, and other great member benefits.
- SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE: From fast-paced action and adventure to timeless classics, family-friendly games, innovative indie titles, brain-teasing puzzles, immersive roleplaying adventures, and intense shooters. Dive into a world where every gamer can find their next favorite game.
- NEW GAMES ON DAY ONE: Enjoy incredible new games on day one from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision Blizzard, and more. Play The Outer Worlds 2, NINJA GAIDEN 4, and High on Life 2 as soon as they are released.
- ONLINE CONSOLE MULTIPLAYER: Tap into the heart of the Xbox community and join millions of players ready to play together. Online console multiplayer is included with Game Pass Ultimate.
- EA PLAY MEMBERSHIP INCLUDED: Jump into Battlefield, STAR WARS, and other great game franchises with EA Play. Included at no extra cost, members get access to a collection of EA’s best-loved games, in-game rewards, and trials of select new games.
Which Game Pass plan applied?
PC Game Pass
The announcement named PC Game Pass for all three titles, although only Wargroove 2 received a PC, console, and cloud listing. PC Game Pass was the directly aligned option for someone playing on Windows and wanting the two day-one releases, Frostpunk 2 and Ara, without console or cloud access.
Xbox’s current PC Game Pass information says the service requires Windows 10 or 11 version 22H2 or higher and the Xbox PC app. Individual games can require more powerful hardware. The plan also advertises EA Play and selected member discounts. See the official PC Game Pass page for current terms.
Rank #4
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- NO FEES OR EXPIRATION — XBOX Gift Cards never expire and have no service fees, so your balance is ready whenever you are.
Game Pass Ultimate
Ultimate was the other tier named in the 2024 announcement. It was the relevant choice for someone who wanted Wargroove 2 across console or cloud as well as PC, or who valued Ultimate’s wider benefits. A PC-only player interested mainly in Frostpunk 2 and Ara did not need Ultimate solely because those games were day-one releases.
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A subscription made sense during the 2024 launch window for players who wanted to sample both PC day-one games, or all three titles, without committing to individual purchases. It is not automatically the cheapest option: the calculation depends on playtime, sale prices, and how long each game remains in the catalog.
Best Value
- DISCOVER 50+ GAMES — Explore a curated library of more than 50 games playable across XBOX consoles, PC, and supported devices, with new favorites ready to discover.
- PLAY ACROSS YOUR FAVORITE DEVICES — Enjoy included games across supported XBOX consoles, PC, and other compatible devices for more ways to play wherever you are.
- PLAY TOGETHER ONLINE — Connect with friends and communities with online console multiplayer included with XBOX Game Pass Essential.
- STREAM WITH XBOX CLOUD GAMING — Enjoy up to 5 hours of cloud playtime per month and stream supported games to compatible devices with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
- EARN REWARDS WHILE YOU PLAY — Earn Rewards points by playing games, completing eligible activities, and shopping in the Store with your XBOX Game Pass membership.
| Reader situation | Most logical direction |
|---|---|
| Try Frostpunk 2 and Ara on Windows at launch | PC Game Pass |
| Play Wargroove 2 on console or cloud as well as PC | Game Pass Ultimate, if the current listing supports it |
| Keep one game permanently after canceling | Buy that game outright |
| Use a computer with uncertain specifications | Check the individual system requirements first |
| Play one title for a long period | Compare its current purchase price with the expected subscription duration |
Xbox’s U.S. pages showed PC Game Pass at $13.99 per month and Ultimate at $22.99 per month when checked on August 16, 2026. Prices, plan names, introductory offers, and renewal terms can change; confirm the current figures on the PC Game Pass purchase page and Game Pass comparison page. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled under the applicable terms.
What Xbox console players should know
The platform distinction is the most important detail in the announcement. Wargroove 2 was listed for cloud, console, and PC. Frostpunk 2 and Ara: History Untold were listed for PC only. That describes their Game Pass placement in September 2024; it does not establish that either game can never appear on another platform in the future.
How to interpret the announcement today
“Coming to Game Pass” refers to dates in September 2024, not an August or September 2026 release calendar. Xbox states that catalog availability varies by time, region, plan, and platform. A former inclusion therefore does not prove that a game remains available in every current library. Check the Xbox app or the current title page in your region before starting a subscription.
Also check each game’s present system requirements and any additional launcher or account requirement. Having PC Game Pass alone does not guarantee that a particular computer can run a title.
Verdict
This was a strong strategy-focused Game Pass wave, especially for PC players: Frostpunk 2 and Ara delivered day-one access, while Wargroove 2 added the only console and cloud option. Its lasting value is as a September 2024 release record and a guide to the three games’ distinct audiences, not as proof of their availability in every Game Pass catalog today.
Quick Recap
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