Microsoft Unveils Xbox Game Pass July 2024 Wave 2 Lineup, Leaves Plenty of Room for Call of Duty Later in the Month [IGN]

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass July 2024 Wave 2 lineup, which unusually only takes us up to July 19. This leaves plenty of time for a subsequent announcement of the long-awaited addition of games from Activision’s back catalog, including Call of Duty titles.

It’s the first Game Pass lineup announced after Microsoft’s controversial price hike and tier change for its subscription service. Analysts recently told IGN the Game Pass price hike was “inevitable,” and warned more increases, more tiers, and even ads may be on the way.

As for what’s confirmed as coming to Game Pass in July, out today, July 16 is Magical Delicacy (Cloud, Console, and PC), available day-one with Game Pass. This wholesome pixel art platformer lets players cook magical delicacies from a vast collection of ingredients in your own shop.

Also out today day-one on Game Pass is Flock (Cloud, Console, and PC), a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends.

On July 18, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) hits Game Pass as a day-one title. It’s an action RPG from A44 Games, the developers of Ashen. Also on July 18 is yet another day-one Game Pass launch: Dungeons of Hinterberg.

Microsoft’s Wave 2 announcement is rounded out by Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Cloud, Console, and PC), which launches day-one on Game Pass on July 19. This Japanese-inspired, single-player Kagura action strategy game is a new intellectual property from Capcom. IGN’s Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review returned an 8/10. We said: “Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a fascinatingly fun action-strategy hybrid with unique gameplay and impressive art design.”

Xbox Game Pass July 2024 Wave 2 lineup:

• Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 18
• Dungeons of Hinterberg (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 18
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 19

It’s worth noting that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can access the EA Sports College Football 25 early access 10-hour trial now via EA Play.

Microsoft’s Game Pass July 2024 Wave 2 announcement takes us up to July 19, which obviously leaves plenty more of the month to come. In a post on Xbox Wire, Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass, teased another update, saying: “Let’s get to the games (and let’s stay in touch, we have another update for you soon)!”

Perhaps the company is making room for the addition of some big hitters from the Activision back catalog, with Call of Duty games including last year’s Modern Warfare 3 waiting in the wings.

Elsewhere, three games exit Game Pass on July 31. You can pick these up for up to 20% off before they go.

• A Short Hike (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Train Sim World 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Venba (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.