January 2026 Xbox Game Pass Lineup: Every New Game Coming Your Way
Xbox is kicking off the new year swinging, with Game Pass dropping a stacked lineup of day-one launches in January and a steady stream to follow as the year rolls on. Here’s what’s landing to start strong.
Xbox is starting 2026 like it means it. Game Pass is getting day-one drops out of the gate in January, with more on deck as the year rolls on. Here is what is locked for this month so far.
MIO: Memories in Orbit — January 20 (Console and PC)
This one is a looker. MIO: Memories in Orbit is a sci-fi Metroidvania from Douze Dixiemes that drops day one on Game Pass for both console and PC on January 20. You play as MIO, a robot exploring a sprawling, derelict ship called the Vessel, piecing together what went wrong while fighting off corrupted machines.
It is all about exploration and progression: push deeper into the Vessel, take on enemies and bosses, then unlock and upgrade abilities to shape MIO to your playstyle. The pitch here is stylish, atmospheric platforming with a strong art direction and a mystery to unravel as you recover the ship’s lost memories. Bonus: there is a demo live on Xbox right now if you want a taste before launch.
Nova Roma — January 22 (PC)
Two days later, Game Pass adds Nova Roma on PC, day one. Developed by Lion Shield, it is a big, nuts-and-bolts city builder set after the fall of Rome, where you start fresh and try to craft a thriving 'new Rome' from scratch.
Expect the full spreadsheet brain workout: planning out infrastructure, juggling supply chains, balancing what your citizens want and need, and keeping the whole society humming. You can also build temples to honor the gods, which fits the vibe. The hook is depth and long-term planning to guide your city toward something actually worthy of the name.
I will update this lineup as Microsoft confirms more January additions. For now, which one are you firing up first?