Hades, Skate 3, Lumines, and more join Xbox Game Pass in August

Xbox Game Pass August 2021
Xbox Game Pass August 2021 (Image credit: Xbox)

What you need to know

  • Xbox Game Pass is a gaming subscription service that continually adds new games for subscribers to access.
  • The latest list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of August has just been unveiled.
  • The highlight of the announcement is absolutely the Xbox console debut of Hades, coming on Aug. 13.
  • Other games like Skate coming to console and Skate 3 coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming are also making waves.

Xbox Game Pass had a killer month in July, and the nonstop barrage of great games like Microsoft Flight Simulator for Xbox and The Ascent made it a tough act to follow. Today, we finally learn how Xbox intends to, as the games coming to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of August have been revealed.

If there's any single one game that's dominating this month's Xbox Game Pass announcements, it's the arrival of Hades on Xbox consoles, which launches into Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 13. EA Play is also making some exciting moves, with the original Skate heading to Xbox and Skate 3 grinding rails in the cloud. Finally, PC is getting a few titles, likely to replace the handful of PC games that are leaving the service this month (including GTA V leaving Xbox Game Pass).

The games on this list can head everywhere that Xbox Game Pass is available, including Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. The best games on Xbox Game Pass already include some incredible titles, but new games come all the time to join it. Make sure you never lose track of Xbox Game Pass news by bookmarking our ultimate guide to everything coming to and leaving from Xbox Game Pass.

Coming soon

You can check out all the titles coming soon to Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud gaming below:

Curse of the Dead Gods (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 5

You seek untold riches, eternal life, divine powers – it leads to an accursed temple, a seemingly infinite labyrinth of bottomless pits, deadly traps, and monsters. Your greed will lead you to death, but that is not an escape. Rise to fight again and defy the malignant deities that linger in this place!

Dodgeball Academia (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 5

Get ready to dodge, duck, dip, and dive in Dodgeball Academia available with Xbox Game Pass on day one! This vibrant sports RPG puts you in a world that lives and breathes dodgeball. Forge friendships and develop rivals as you train to become the ultimate champion – dominating on and off the courts.

Katamari Damacy Reroll (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 5

The stop-at-nothing pushing prince is back and ready to reroll! When the King of All Cosmos accidentally destroys all the stars in the sky, he orders you, his pint-sized princely son, to put the twinkle back in the heavens above. Join the king on their wacky adventure to restore the stars – now in full HD!

Lumines Remastered (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 5

A game that beautifully marries the elements of sound, light and puzzle-action into one engaging, yet easy-to-play experience. You're at the center of the high-energy, block-dropping action while you groove to awesome house, trance, and techno beats!

Skate (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One) via EA Play — Aug. 5

Head back to where it all began as Skate joins The EA Play List! Get chased by security guards, impress or annoy citizens, ride with pros, discover skate shops, and make spots your own in this fully reactive city!

Skate 3 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 5

The award-winning Skate franchise returns to break new ground with Skate 3. Build the ultimate team and change the face of the city in this definitive co-op skateboarding experience with EA Play.

Starmancer (PC) — Aug. 5

Obey protocol or go rogue as you take on the role of a powerful A.I. in Starmancer. Build bustling space ports, secret laboratories, and incubators for mysterious eggs. Defend against starvation, sabotage, and space zombies. Don't worry, you can always grow more humans.

Art of Rally (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 12

Art of Rally is a stylized experience inspired by the golden era of rally from the creator of Absolute Drift. From beginner-friendly options to driving modes that'll challenge the most expert drivers, race across the world through colorful and stylized environments, now including Kenya with 4 new cars, 6 new tracks, and a new free-roam area!

Hades (Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming) — Aug. 13

Defy the god of the dead as you battle out of the Underworld of Greek myth in this Game of the Year winning rogue-like dungeon crawler. You'll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt.

Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition (PC) — Aug. 17

Be part of the most played video game in history! Get an ad-free experience in the Premium Edition, including an exclusive Xbox Game Pass card back! Enjoy the best Solitaire card games in one app, plus daily challenges, competitive events, Xbox achievements, and a new Xbox theme. Discover why millions around the world have loved this timeless classic for over 31 years.

Leaving soon

You can check out all the titles leaving soon from Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming below:

Leaving Aug. 8

  • Grand Theft Auto V (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)

Leaving Aug. 15

  • Ape Out (PC)
  • Crossing Souls (PC)
  • Darksiders Genesis (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Don't Starve (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
  • Final Fantasy VII (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, & PC)
  • Train Sim World 2020 (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming)
Zachary Boddy
Staff Writer

Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter @BoddyZachary.