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We're all set to head into an extremely busy few days of showcases as part of Gamescom 2026, so we thought we'd use this quiet Sunday to give you the heads up on two "day one" releases coming to Xbox Game Pass along the way.
The first of these is Blood Dungeon, which is a 2D platforming autoshooter from the creators of awesome two-player fighting game Nidhogg. While it might not be much of a looker, we reckon this one could impress a few people when it launches into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Tuesday, August 25th.
The second is a game we've talked about quite a lot recently in the form of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy. This is the prequel to the other two Plague Tale games, and it's releasing for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on Thursday, August 27th. Look out for reviews and Xbox Series X|S footage over the coming days.
Another thing to keep in mind here is that Gamescom may present a few Xbox Game Pass surprises, potentially including a shadow drop or two. We'll keep you in the loop if that's the case, but it's also worth checking the "newly added" category for Xbox Game Pass on your console throughout the week just in case.
As things stand though, here are those two final "day one" Xbox Game Pass releases of August 2026:
Blood Dungeon (August 25)
From the creators of Nidhogg, murder hordes of monsters in this 2D platforming autoshooter with a killer soundtrack. Collect Blood, gold, and bones to increase your powers. Can you survive the Blood Dungeon?
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (August 27)
Embark on an original story, prequel to the award-winning games: A Plague Tale. As Sophia, journey to the Minotaur’s Island, outsmart deadly foes, unravel ancient secrets, and confront a mythical creature at the heart of a devastating curse.