Xbox’s tough 2026 continued in September with another round of shake-ups that left fans little to be optimistic about. Layoffs and studio departures have made the future of Microsoft’s gaming brand unclear as its focus tightens around major IP. Considering the grim vibe, October has become a crucial month for Xbox. Two major first-party releases, plus a slew of promising Xbox Game Pass additions, will need to impress players enough to keep looking forward to Project Helix.
Though Microsoft is fighting an uphill battle, it does have some much-needed help in October. Gears of War and Call of Duty will co-headline Xbox’s healthiest month so far this year, at least when it comes to new games. If you’re looking for a reason to keep your Series X running this fall, keep these upcoming games on your radar.
1
Gears of War: E-Day
Release date: Oct. 6
Even without the high-stakes business drama happening at Microsoft, Gears of War: E-Day was always going to be a big deal for Xbox. The third-person shooter looks to keep one of Xbox’s crown jewel franchises relevant with a prequel full of blood, guts, and testicle monsters. Based on what we’ve played across a few previews, fans of the series are in for a good time. Despite it taking the series to the beginning of the Gears timeline to show how Emergence Day unfolded, it’s still the same testosterone-fueled action romp, complete with a thrilling Horde mode. If you only have time to play one new Xbox game this month, E-Day will be your likely pick.
2
Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Release date: Oct. 6
The Star Wars series is on a roll right now thanks to the excellent Star Wars: Zero Company, and that will continue in October with Star Wars: Galactic Racer. The new racing game applies the fundamentals of Burnout to the Star Wars universe, meaning that players are in for high-speed races full of slo-mo crashes. Based on a demo we tried back at Summer Game Fest, it’s already feeling like a tight, exciting racer that makes good use of Star Wars’ junky vehicles. Plus, its roguelike-inspired campaign feels innovative enough to potentially reshape how solo content is handled in racing games.
3
Echo Weaver
Release date: Oct. 8
Echo Weaver has been on my radar for a long time thanks to Xbox heavily promoting it as a promising indie coming to Xbox Game Pass over the last few years. I can understand why having seen it in action. The unique Metroidvania has you manipulating time to progress through its 2D world. It’s the kind of game where you have every power you need to progress from the start, but you’ll have to figure out exactly what they are as you play. It all makes for a fascinating puzzle-adventure structure that could make for a breakout hit when it launches on Xbox Game Pass.
4
Valor Mortis
Release date: Oct. 13
If you’re looking for a challenge in October, look no further than Valor Mortis. Set for a day one launch on Xbox Game Pass, the latest game from the developers of Ghostrunner is a first-person Soulslike with a wild premise. You play as a dead soldier from Napoleon’s army who is resurrected to fight a mysterious plague that has taken hold of Europe. It’s a slice of historical horror, leaving you to fight through a corrupted vision of the 19th century filled with grotesque monsters. Considering developer One More Level’s pedigree, it should be a bloody good time.
5
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
Release date: Oct. 23
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 needs little introduction. This year’s installment of Activision’s first-person shooter series is poised to be a big moment for the franchise. It follows up on 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 with a story about a South Korean soldier looking to protect his home from an invasion. Most intriguing this time around, though, is that Modern Warfare is reintroducing DMZ, an extraction shooter mode featured in Modern Warfare 2. Considering how popular Arc Raiders was in 2025, DMZ could stand to reenergize Call of Duty’s audience following a few years of up-and-down releases.