Microsoft has confirmed the subsequent batch of video games set to go away Xbox Recreation Move, and one particularly has induced a level of frustration with subscribers: Stalker 2.
GSC Recreation World’s Stalker 2 launched as an Xbox console unique final yr alongside backing from Microsoft. Whereas it’s not an Xbox Recreation Studios-published online game, Microsoft performed a key position in its advertising and marketing forward of its much-delayed launch date in November 2024. It even labored with the Ukrainian studio on a 90-minute documentary that exposed the issue the builders confronted constructing the sport amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
As confirmed by the Xbox app, Stalker 2 is ready to go away Recreation Move on November 16, 2025, alongside 4 different video games detailed under.
Video games set to go away Xbox Recreation Move on November 16, 2025:
- Stalker 2
- Soccer Supervisor 2024 / Soccer Supervisor 2024 Console
- Blacksmith Grasp
- Frostpunk
- Spirittea
It’s Stalker 2’s exit that has induced probably the most kerfuffle, with some Recreation Move subscribers criticizing the transfer a yr after launch, and simply forward of the sport’s launch on PlayStation 5 on November 20.
“Microsoft backed GSC by way of all of the delays and even the invasion, so it’s stunning they weren’t in a position to safe a greater deal,” mentioned redditor JBishie. “I believe it’s a matter of precept: the sport was incomplete at launch and is barely now beginning to resemble a completed product, but it’s being faraway from the service simply because the 1.7 replace approaches, and with the PS5 launch arising, the timing appears particularly poor.”
Certainly, the actual fact Stalker 2 launched first on Xbox and PC with fairly just a few issues, that are solely now ironed out in time for the PS5 launch, is being highlighted by those that consider the sport ought to stay on Recreation Move for some time longer.
“It has been a yr, which is a reasonably commonplace time for non MiS video games,” mentioned VickyCriesALot. “I am undecided why that is such a shock to folks prefer it’s unprecedented. Lmao.”
“As a result of the sport simply obtained to a good state in that yr’s time?” countered davepars77. “It’s going to take one other yr to get every part sorted, not even speaking about DLC but. It has been in early entry not a completed product so now’s a good time to tear it off the service.”
“I believe it’s a very dangerous precedent {that a} sport stays shorter in Recreation Move than we needed to look ahead to it to launch, past ready MONTHS to grow to be correctly playable patch after patch,” complained X / Twitter consumer @ZakkenKloot.
“It is dangerous that Stalker goes,” added @Matty_Cs_World. “It was good however principally launched very buggy. I do not like {that a} premium subscription is simply used as a beta testing space for devs. I did wish to return to the sport. However I assume that ship has sailed.”
“Xbox has to cease funding unfinished early entry video games primarily for Recreation Move day one titles,” mentioned Minute-Use-8489. “Two video games that come to thoughts Stalker 2 & Payday 3 got here out very unfinished and took a yr for them to repair and replace every sport than as soon as their good to play they get faraway from Recreation Move looks like a rip-off to the subscribers imo.”
It’s value noting many of the video games on this checklist can be found with a reduction of at the very least 20% till they go away Xbox Recreation Move in early November.
It doesn’t assist that Microsoft lately sparked a big backlash by mountain climbing the value of Recreation Move. Within the case of Final, it went up a whopping 50% to $29.99 a month. That quantities to an additional $120 a yr. To justify the value hike, Microsoft upped the variety of day one releases per yr to 75, and added Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics for the primary time ever. There have been additionally upgrades to Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming high quality.
As for Stalker 2 on PS5, it launches on Sony’s console with full help for the DualSense controller’s options, together with haptic suggestions and adaptive triggers. Additional technical enhancements for the PS5 Professional are additionally in improvement.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].