Xbox Game Pass removes peak AAA remake from free line-up one week before launch

Xbox Game Pass’ July free game line-up has been dealt a devastating blow as it removes one of its AAA games a week before its launch later this month.

Some good stuff has been added to Xbox Game Pass this month, such as the fantastic Gears of War: Reloaded for Premium subscribers, and survival games like Quarantine Zone: The Last Check which was added today, July 15.

Other games joining the service in July include; Winds of Arcana: Ruination, Tamashika, Ascend to Zero, PBA Pro Bowling 2026, Mavrix by Matt Jones, FixForce, Fogpiercer and The Planet Crafter.

In total that’s 10 new additions, and they're currently being pitted against PlayStation Plus’ offering from earlier today.

Unfortunately one more game was supposed to be featured amongst that line-up before Xbox cut it; Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2.

This remake of the first two Tony Hawk Pro Skater games was supposed to come to Xbox Game Pass on July 21, but Xbox has mysteriously pulled the plug.

Wario64 flagged the omission, as at the bottom of Xbox’s blogpost detailing what’s coming to Xbox Game Pass in July is an editor’s note reading: “We’ve removed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the list of titles coming soon to Game Pass.”

No explanation has been given as to why that is, and it’s especially strange considering Xbox owns Activision-Blizzard, so bringing that title to Xbox Game Pass should have been easy-peasy.

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PlayStation Plus may have stolen this Xbox Game Pass AAA

The Xbox subscription service received a hefty price-cut earlier this year with the caveat of no new Call of Duty games coming to the service. So Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for instance won’t be included as a day-one Xbox Game Pass Ultimate release.

It was said that it shouldn't affect Call of Duty/Activision games already featured on the service, nor should it have any impact on existing games being made into new additions. Call of Duty: Vanguard for example was added not too long ago.

With that in mind we have no idea what’s happened to the Tony Hawk Pro Skater game, but fans initially speculated it might have something to do with PlayStation.

“@XBOX can't help themselves but keep dropping clangers” began KingOfGamersUK, “if they've accepted a deal from Sony to block it based on it entering PS+ in August then i am completely done with Game Pass.”

There’s currently no word on whether Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 will be a PlayStation Plus title next month, but it’s certainly possible given that it was ripped from Xbox Game Pass.

On the bright side Xbox subscribers still have access to Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4, so that’s something.

It’s not the end of the world by any means, but Xbox removing games it promised would be added to Xbox Game Pass is yet another worrying sign the company is struggling to stay afloat.