1. Introduction: The Key Announcement and Re-evaluating "Access"
1.1. Re-evaluating the Nature of "Access" and the Dominance of Subscription Services
The video game industry, which has long stood on the solid pillars of physical or permanent digital ownership, is now completely dominated by the concept of "Access." Xbox Game Pass, as the standard-bearer of this shift, has managed to change our definition of value from purchasing a product to renting a vast catalogue. Yet, every month, with the announcement of the list of games slated to leave the service, this business model exposes its own unstable nature.
On November 26, 2025, with the announcement that five titles would be removed by the end of the month, this harsh reality once again took the spotlight. This time, however, the list of departures included titles that carry significant weight in the gaming world: Octopath Traveler 1 & 2 (two acclaimed JRPG titles from Square Enix) and the dark action RPG Lords of the Fallen.
1.2. Tekin Plus as the Curator, Analyst, and Watchdog of News (November 26, 2025)
Here at Tekin Plus, we do not view the removal of these titles as a simple transfer; rather, we see it as a strategic warning bell that demands deep analysis. This event, more than anything else, illuminates the economics of content contracts and consumer psychology in the age of subscriptions. As the curator and watchdog of daily news, we examine this story not just for reporting, but for elucidating its implications for long-term gaming strategy.
2. Overview of the Exit Wave: Games Leaving the Platform
2.1. The Full List of Departures and the Weight of AAA/AA Titles
Despite the promise of an "infinite library," the Game Pass service has always been a "dynamic" catalogue—meaning games enter and exit in a regular cycle based on the expiration of content contracts. The significance of these departures, however, depends on the calibre of the titles packing their bags.
The full list of games set to leave the service on November 30, 2025 (December 9, 2025, Persian calendar) includes: Lords of the Fallen, Octopath Traveler, Octopath Traveler 2, Barbie Project Friendship, and SteamWorld Build.
The removal of the first three titles, all of which are AAA or AA RPGs with high playtimes, delivered the main shock to the Game Pass community. For subscribers who invest significant time in RPG titles, the exit of a game often translates to a lost opportunity or the need to purchase the game at a discount (typically 20% for subscribers) to preserve their progress.
2.2. The Immediate Impact on the Community (Community Backlash)
Upon the announcement, social media was flooded with protests and disappointment from subscribers who had not yet had the chance to complete these lengthy games. These public reactions, though short-lived, indicate a fundamental problem with the subscription model: Game Pass offers a massive volume of content, but there is insufficient time to consume it. This itself is a crucial psychological factor that Tekin Plus will address in later sections.
3. Section I Analysis: The Subscription Cycle Economics
3.1. The Financial Model of AAA Games on Game Pass: Compensating Costs vs. Sales Opportunity
The entry of any AAA game into Game Pass is a complex financial transaction from the publisher's perspective. Microsoft pays the third-party publisher a sum, usually a guaranteed fixed figure. This sum is intended to compensate for (or at least reduce) the revenue the publisher could have earned from direct, full-price sales of that title. This model is a lifeline for smaller publishers and indie studios, providing guaranteed liquidity.
But for major titles like Lords of the Fallen, the deal is a double-edged sword. Initially, these games become instantly accessible to tens of millions of subscribers, rapidly entering the gaming culture. This dramatically increases Market Penetration and Brand Awareness.
The critical question posed by Tekin Plus is: Does the money Microsoft pays truly compensate for the lost potential of a $70 sale? The answer depends on timing. If the game fails to achieve expected sales traction post-launch, the Game Pass contract is a golden parachute. But if the game has long-tail sales potential, keeping it on the service indefinitely is not in the publisher's best interest. The exit of these titles signals the publisher feels it is time to return the game to the open sales cycle.
3.2. Why Do Games Leave? Technical Analysis and Strategic Analysis
The removal of games is a phenomenon that is both technical and entirely strategic:
Technical Analysis (Contract Expiry): The simplest reason is the expiration of the content licensing agreement, which is typically signed for a 12 to 24-month period. After this time, the publisher has the right to pull the game for direct sale or leasing to another service (like PlayStation Plus Premium), or to demand a new renewal rate.
Strategic Analysis (Replacement Economics): The strategy of subscription platforms is based on continuous subscriber attraction. Keeping an older, costly title that most subscribers have already played no longer provides the necessary Return on Investment (ROI). Microsoft prefers to spend the maintenance cost of old, expensive titles on attracting a new, engaging title that has the power to attract new subscribers. This cycle of "new content entry" and "saturated content exit" is a key tool for keeping the catalogue fresh.
3.3. Publisher Revenue Recovery in Future Sales (Strategic Tie-in to Black Friday Deals)
It is noteworthy that the news of these games leaving was announced precisely as the main phase of Black Friday sales began. This is an intelligent synchronicity:
Players who abandoned the game halfway through due to their Game Pass subscription, or who wish to own it permanently, now have the opportunity to purchase it at a discount, and with permanent ownership.
Publishers secure significant revenue from digital sales during major sales events, monetizing the community that became familiar with the game.
From the Tekin Plus perspective, this revenue recovery strategy demonstrates a two-stage process: first, raising awareness through Game Pass, and then final monetization through discounted sales to the same community that discovered the game. This business model clearly shows why subscription services, for their survival, are forced to manage removals carefully, and sometimes painfully.
4. Section II Analysis: Consumer Impact and the Psychology of the "Temporary Library"
4.1. The Psychological Pressure to Play (The Fear of Missing Out - FOMO) and the Contradiction with Long RPG Experiences
The temporary nature of the Game Pass catalogue has a powerful side effect on player behavior: The Psychological Pressure to Play (FOMO). When a player realizes that a major game like Octopath Traveler 2, which requires dozens of hours to complete, will leave the service by the end of the month, a strong motivation arises to start quickly or rush its completion.
This psychological pressure is in direct contradiction with the philosophy of Role-Playing Games (RPGs). RPGs are designed to encourage deep experience, immersion in the game world, and long playtime. Tekin Plus believes the subscription system compromises the enjoyable nature of this genre because instead of savoring details, the player is caught in a race against time to progress quickly to the end. This turns the experience of long games from a pleasant journey into a scheduled task.
4.2. The Fundamental Difference Between "Access" and "Ownership" in the Long Term
The biggest lesson the departures teach subscribers is a clear understanding of the difference between "access" and "ownership." "Ownership" guarantees you can replay the game whenever you want, even ten years from now, without needing a subscription or internet connection; while "access" allows you to play only as long as Microsoft and the publisher agree.
In the long run, the lack of ownership is a permanent risk. For a specific game that holds nostalgic value for a player, needing to repurchase the game at a discounted price (after one or two years of free access) raises the question of whether the temporary saving was worth forfeiting a permanent archive.
4.3. Shift in Player Valuation: Is the Price of 30 Days of Access Truly Fair?
The subscription model subconsciously diminishes the value of games for players. When a player knows they can access over 100 games for a monthly fee of $10, the intrinsic value of a $70 game fades. Game removals slap back at this valuation model. The player suddenly realizes that to keep that experience, they must pay the full price.
Tekin Plus believes this valuation challenge is a double-edged sword for the industry: while Game Pass has successfully attracted millions of new users, it has simultaneously led a vast community of players to be less willing to pay full price for AAA titles. This paradox spells a challenging future for publishers who cannot secure major Game Pass contracts.
5. The Future of Platforms: Game Pass in the Mid-Ninth Generation and Beyond
5.1. The Content War in 2025: Examining Game Pass's Position Against Competitors
In late 2025, the platform war has fully entered the phase of a Content War. While Sony, with PlayStation Plus Premium, attempts to improve its classic library and game trials, and Nintendo still relies on its unique model of exclusive content, Game Pass remains the leader due to its inclusion of Day One Microsoft titles.
However, recent departures show that even Microsoft is compelled to manage the costs of maintaining third-party content. This doesn't necessarily strengthen Game Pass's position against PlayStation Plus, but merely indicates that economic constraints are pressuring all subscription models.
5.2. Microsoft’s Strategy: Increasing Focus on First-Party and Day-One Exclusives
Given the increasing costs of acquiring third-party content, Tekin Plus analysts predict that Microsoft's strategy will increasingly focus on the output of its internal studios. Acquiring major studios and guaranteeing the Day One availability of exclusive titles like Starfield 2 or The Elder Scrolls 6 on Game Pass will be the main tool to justify the subscription cost.
The removal of third-party games is a catalogue cleansing. By pulling major but older games, Microsoft frees up financial space to acquire newer, more vital AAA titles or to invest more heavily in its own exclusive content.
5.3. The Tekin Plus Outlook: Does the Removal of Games Signify Model Sustainability or Fragility?
From the Tekin Plus perspective, the periodic removal of games is not a sign of fragility, but rather a sign of forced sustainability of the subscription model. A subscription service cannot financially afford to keep all the content in the world forever. This exit cycle assures publishers that their contract has an "exit ticket," and in turn, allows Microsoft to direct financial resources toward new, attractive content.
6. Conclusion and Tekin Plus Summary
6.1. The Cost Paid by Subscribers for Microsoft's Operational Freedom
The departure of games like Lords of the Fallen on November 26 is a clear reminder: you are a subscriber to Microsoft's operational freedom and the publishers' financial cycle, not an owner of the content. The true cost paid by Game Pass subscribers is not just the monthly fee, but uncertainty and the forfeiture of permanent ownership.
6.2. Tekin Plus Key Recommendations for Subscribers and Developers
Tekin Plus Recommendations for Subscribers:
Prioritize: Place long RPG titles at the top of your list immediately upon entry into the service.
Strategic Purchasing: Use sale discounts for games that are worth long-term retention (especially the 20% subscriber discount upon exit).
Realistic Expectations: Never regard the Game Pass library as your personal archive.
Tekin Plus Recommendation for Developers:
View Game Pass contracts as a massive marketing tool rather than a permanent revenue stream. Leverage the fame and feedback gained from being on the service to boost sales after the game exits the catalogue.