Among them is GTA 5... Games leaving Xbox Game Pass this month
Microsoft has officially announced the new list of games leaving Xbox Game Pass this April, sparking widespread reaction from the gaming community. At the top of the list is the iconic Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), considered one of the most successful games in the industry's history. According to updates appearing on the Xbox app for PCs, the two versions of the game, GTA 5 Enhanced and GTA 5 Legacy, will officially be removed from the service on April 15th.
Grand Theft Auto V's journey into the world of digital subscriptions
This wasn't the first time GTA 5 entered and then exited streaming and digital subscription services. Historically, Rockstar Games has adopted a flexible strategy of making its games available through Microsoft's popular service. Xbox Game Pass is a pioneering platform that has truly revolutionized how digital content is consumed since its launch, relying on the continuous updating of its library to ensure a diverse range of choices for its millions of subscribers.
The timing of the departure appears to have been anticipated by many experts, coming a full year after the game's return on April 15th of last year, when the "Enhanced" version became available to PC Game Pass subscribers. This pattern clearly indicates a fixed-term licensing agreement that lasted 12 months, a common practice in the video game industry to maintain sales of standalone titles, according to the global gaming news network IGN.
List of games leaving Xbox Game Pass alongside GTA 5
The changes to Microsoft's digital library this month aren't limited to the departure of the popular open-world game; they extend to a variety of other titles that have garnered significant player attention. The list of games soon to leave subscribers includes classic role-playing experiences like "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" and the complex strategy game "Terra Invicta." Also departing are the family adventure game "My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery" and the indie action role-playing game "Ashen." Microsoft regularly updates its library to ensure it offers fresh experiences, meaning that the removal of these games paves the way for the arrival of other major titles.
The impact of the changes on the player community and the future of the series
The removal of games the size of GTA 5 from the subscription library has a significant impact on the gaming community at the local, regional, and international levels. In the Middle East and North Africa, as globally, a large segment of gamers relies on the service to experience massive games at an affordable price. The game's removal may push many users to purchase the full version to retain their progress in the multiplayer mode (GTA Online), which continues to generate enormous profits and attracts millions of players daily.
Conversely, this strategic move coincides with the escalating marketing campaign and global anticipation for the next installment, Grand Theft Auto VI. Strauss Zelnick, president of Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Studios, indicated that preparations are well underway for the next phase. According to reports, GTA 6 is slated for release in late 2025 or 2026 on current-generation platforms such as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S, while no official announcement has yet been made regarding a PC version. This direction makes the departure of the fifth installment a logical step to focus efforts and direct players' attention toward the upcoming release, which is expected to reshape the entire digital entertainment industry.
