Xbox Game Pass kicks off July with two free extras: they’re not new games

Xbox Game Pass opens the month of July with two “free downloads” for subscribers, but it’s best not to get the wrong idea: they aren’t full games to add to the Xbox Game Pass library, but perks inside titles that were already there. Even so, those who frequently play very popular free-to-play games may be interested. On top of that, they arrive in a pretty intense month for the service’s catalog.

The first July perk is related to League of Legends. Xbox Game Pass members can unlock the new champion Locke, the Ashen Exorcist.

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The second is for Wuthering Waves and includes Morphable Echos, Premium Tuners, Shell Credits and an exclusive Xbox emblem.

So yes, the hook of those “two free downloads” is there, but when you look at what’s really being offered, what there is is extra content and not two new full titles. The strongest part of July is somewhere else: Gears of War: Reloaded, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 and Palworld 1.0. Between major releases, highly recognizable remasters and recent phenomena, Xbox Game Pass once again leans on one of its strongest cards. For many users, the real value of the service still lies in these additions to the catalog, much more than in cosmetic rewards or progression extras.

And, as happens every month, the arrivals also come with farewells: On July 15 PowerWash Simulator, Stellaris and Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition will leave Xbox Game Pass, so there’s still one last chance to play them or to buy them with the usual subscriber discount.

All of this also arrives at a delicate moment for Xbox’s subscription business. According to several recent reports, Xbox Game Pass is said to have gone from some 34 million subscribers in 2024 to around 30 million, a figure that falls very far short of the internal target of 77 million projected for 2026.

Those same reports point to several causes to explain the slowdown: layoffs, the divestment from five studios and strategy changes. On top of that there would have been a price increase at the end of 2025 that, again according to those sources, would have caused millions of users to leave. Later Microsoft reportedly adjusted the pricing and growth returned. There are also industry analysts who believe the model has fairly clear limits: many players buy one or two games a year, others concentrate almost all their time on “black hole” titles like Fortnite, and not everyone takes advantage of a broad catalog rotation. That’s why, even in months as packed as July, Xbox Game Pass still has to prove that it’s worth it in the long term.

Xbox Game Pass adds 2 extra July perks: free *League of Legends* and *Wuthering Waves* rewards

Microsoft has added two more Xbox Game Pass perks for July, this time tied to in-game rewards in Riot Games’ League of Legends and Kuro Games’ Wuthering Waves.

These aren’t surprise additions to the playable lineup. In League of Legends, you can unlock the new Champion, Locke, the Ashen Exorcist. Wuthering Waves is getting Morphable Echos, Premium Tuners, Shell Credits, and an Xbox-exclusive sigil, though what’s available depends on your region, platform, and subscription tier.

They arrive as part of a broader July refresh for Xbox Game Pass, which also includes Gears of War: Reloaded, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, and Palworld 1.0. On the way out, PowerWash Simulator, Stellaris, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider Definitive Edition are all set to leave on July 15.

If most of your gaming time already goes to online or free-to-play titles, these bonuses are easy to justify. They also give Microsoft one more way to make Xbox Game Pass feel busy and updated, at a moment when reports say the service has fallen from roughly 34 million subscribers in 2024 to about 30 million, still well short of its 2026 goal.

You can check for them and claim them in the Perks section of an eligible Xbox Game Pass account.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: Cinderace 7-Star raid is live now

As of June 11, 2026, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet on Nintendo Switch have brought back the 7-Star Tera Raid Battle with Cinderace and the Mightiest Mark. This rerun is about the raid itself, not any 72-hour free download offer.

The event runs from June 11 to June 18, 2026. During that window, players can go after a Fighting-type Tera Cinderace in a high-level raid aimed at people who’ve already made it through the endgame in Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet.

You can only catch this Cinderace once per save file. Still, you can jump back into the raid as many times as you like to farm the rewards.

If you haven’t unlocked 7-Star raids yet by finishing the main story and the post-game, there’s still a way in. You can join online through another player’s raid.

And if you already own Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet and feel like taking on a real endgame fight this week, this one’s probably worth a shot.

Just don’t go in expecting an easy clear. By most accounts, Cinderace is one of the tougher event battles in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. Reports say it can use High Jump Kick, Pyro Ball, Acrobatics, and Iron Head, and most guides point to counters like Slowbro or Armarouge.

The rerun is also a pretty good example of how Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet keep people checking back in. Rotating raids, Mass Outbreaks, Mystery Gifts, and returning starters from older games still give the games some momentum, even with the time limits, the sometimes clunky online coordination, and the technical issues that still turn some players away.

The event is live now in Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet on Nintendo Switch through the games’ in-game online raid system.