Xbox Game Pass expands July 2026 lineup with Tales of the Shire and new Halo remake

Microsoft will broaden its Xbox Game Pass catalog in July 2026, adding the life‑simulation title Tales of the Shire – a Lord of the Rings‑themed game developed by Wētā Workshop – to the service on July 2. The addition comes as Xbox balances day‑one releases of high‑profile titles with its ongoing subscription strategy, while the company restructures several first‑party studios.

The July schedule also includes a remastered Halo: Campaign Evolved built on Unreal Engine 5, the full release of Palworld 1.0, and several other games such as Ascend To Zero, Mistfall Hunter, Speedrunners 2: King of Speed, and Wuthering Waves. These titles will be available across Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC, and cloud streaming for Game Pass subscribers, reflecting Microsoft’s effort to retain users and attract new ones through a diverse mix of established franchises and indie experiences.