As October unfolds, Microsoft’s Xbox and PC subscription service is undergoing its usual seasonal reshuffle, with a wave of new releases arriving alongside a roster of titles departing the platform. Starting on Oct. 15, Game Pass members will lose access to several games, including A Plague Tale: Requiem, Donut County, Pacific Drive, Crime Scene Cleaner, Evil West, Superball, The Casting of Frank Stone, and Nova Roma in its PC Game Preview state. But by far the most high-profile departure is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the acclaimed French role-playing game that swept Game of the Year awards across 2025.
The timing lands at a pivotal moment for both additions and departures. This month’s incoming lineup features some notable names, including the roguelike platformer Neon Abyss 2, the Napoleonic soulslike Valor Mortis, and the highly anticipated multiplayer shooter Battlefield 6. Yet the games being pulled from Microsoft’s membership may draw even more attention—particularly a title that once held the distinction of being the most-played game on the service.
A Record-Setting Debut Heads for the Door
Sandfall Interactive’s debut effort, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, earned widespread critical acclaim last year with its gripping tale of a civilization teetering on the brink of extinction and its flashy turn-based combat. The game swept nearly every major video game award of 2025 and broke records as the most-played title on Game Pass that year—a fitting end to an extraordinary run.
For players weighing whether to jump in before it leaves, the game’s length is worth considering. On the more conservative side for an RPG, Clair Obscur clocks in at just under 30 hours when focusing solely on the main story. But as with any good role-playing game, a great deal of the fun lives in the side quests, and depending on how many players take on, total playtime can balloon to roughly 69 hours.
If you haven’t started it and have Game Pass, the clock is ticking. If you did start but put down the game at some point, there’s slightly less pressure—but you still don’t have long to reach the Paintress.
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Making the Most of Your Last Chance
For those who already own or previously played Expedition 33, there are a few ways to extend their time with it before it departs. Players who have already beaten Sandfall Interactive’s beloved RPG might consider revisiting its totally free DLC expansion, Verso’s Drafts, which adds a photo mode, new outfits, and some devilishly difficult encounters that must be parried. Alternatively, replaying the game from scratch offers a fresh experience—knowing what happens actually intensifies the story.
The community response to Expedition 33 has been nothing short of remarkable, with even high-profile critics who initially doubted it changing their minds once they played through. For anyone still skeptical that the RPG could live up to its hype, the shrinking availability on Game Pass presents a low-risk opportunity to find out for themselves.
The Full Departure List
Beyond Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the October exodus is otherwise modest. Leaving alongside it are A Plague Tale: Requiem, Crime Scene Cleaner, Evil West, Donut County, Pacific Drive, Superball, and The Casting of Frank Stone across Cloud, Console, and PC. Nova Roma will also depart, though only in its PC Game Preview state.
The additions arriving this month offer plenty to offset the losses, with Neon Abyss 2, Valor Mortis, and Battlefield 6 headlining a strong incoming slate. Still, for fans of modern RPGs, the departure of a game as celebrated as Expedition 33 marks a genuine moment to act—especially while it remains available at no extra cost through their existing subscription.
Looking Ahead
With the Oct. 15 deadline firmly on the horizon, players who have not yet begun Expedition 33 should treat this as a limited window to experience one of the decade’s most celebrated role-playing games before it joins the ranks of titles that have already cycled out of Game Pass. Those who want to squeeze every last hour can dive into Verso’s Drafts or embark on a second playthrough, ensuring they fully appreciate Sandfall Interactive’s ambitious debut before it leaves the service.
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