A Reddit post from December 8, 2025 suggests that The Outer Worlds and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey may be leaving Xbox Game Pass, but official Microsoft announcements have not confirmed these specific titles among the December 2025 departures. According to verified Microsoft communications, the games officially confirmed to leave Game Pass in December 2025 are Mortal Kombat 11, Still Wakes the Deep, and Wildfrost on December 15, followed by Carrion and Hell Let Loose on December 31.
The confusion may stem from earlier speculation or changes to the leaving soon section of the Game Pass app, which has seen several games removed from and added back to departure lists throughout December. Notably, Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition and Cataclismo were initially scheduled to leave on December 15 but were quietly saved and removed from the departure list. This pattern of last-minute changes makes it difficult to track which games are actually leaving the service.
Official December 2025 Departures
Microsoft confirmed through their official Xbox Wire blog post on December 2, 2025, and subsequent communications that five games will leave Xbox Game Pass during December. The first wave on December 15 includes Mortal Kombat 11, the NetherRealm fighting game that originally launched in 2019. Still Wakes the Deep, the first-person horror game set on an oil rig developed by The Chinese Room, also departs on that date. Wildfrost, the deck-building roguelike, rounds out the mid-month departures.
The second wave on December 31 removes Carrion, the reverse horror game where you play as an amorphous creature, and Hell Let Loose, the realistic World War II multiplayer shooter. These five games represent the complete official list of December 2025 Game Pass departures as communicated by Microsoft, with no mention of The Outer Worlds or Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey.
Games That Were Saved
Earlier in December, the Game Pass app’s leaving soon section listed several additional games scheduled for December 15 removal including Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, Cataclismo, and PAW Patrol World. However, these titles were quietly removed from the departure list and remain available on Game Pass. Screen Rant reported on December 4 that Xbox Game Pass quietly rescued two games, specifically highlighting Hollow Knight as an Obsidian masterpiece that subscribers can continue enjoying.
This last-minute reprieve demonstrates that Game Pass departure lists can change even days before scheduled removal dates. It’s possible that The Outer Worlds and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey appeared temporarily in leaving soon sections before being removed, creating confusion among subscribers checking the app at different times.
About The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Private Division, originally launching in 2019. The game takes place in an alternate future where mega-corporations colonized space, with players exploring the Halcyon colony at the edge of the galaxy. The title earned critical acclaim for its branching narrative, companion system, and satirical take on corporate capitalism.
Importantly, The Outer Worlds 2 launched on October 29, 2025, as a day-one Game Pass release available on Xbox Series X and S and PC. The sequel is developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, making it a first-party Microsoft title. Since Microsoft owns Obsidian, it would be highly unusual for The Outer Worlds 2 to leave Game Pass, though the original Outer Worlds published by Private Division operates under different licensing arrangements.
About Ancestors The Humankind Odyssey
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is a third-person open-world survival game developed by Panache Digital Games and created by Patrice Desilets, the original creative director behind Assassin’s Creed. The game spans from 10 million to 2 million years ago, with players guiding a lineage of primates through evolution in Neogene period Africa. Players must explore, expand, and evolve their clan by learning new abilities, crafting tools, and passing knowledge to future generations.
The game launched for PC via Epic Games Store in August 2019, with console versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One following in December 2019. While Ancestors has been available on Game Pass previously, its current status and any potential removal have not been officially confirmed by Microsoft in their December 2025 communications.
How Game Pass Departures Work
Microsoft typically announces Game Pass departures approximately two weeks before removal, though December 2025 represented an exception where the company revealed all monthly departures at once. Games scheduled to leave receive 20 percent discounts for active Game Pass subscribers, allowing members to purchase titles they want to keep at reduced prices before they exit the service.
The leaving soon section in the Game Pass app provides the most up-to-date information, though as December 2025 demonstrated, games can be added to or removed from this list even days before scheduled departures. This creates confusion when subscribers check at different times and see different games listed, leading to conflicting information spreading through social media and gaming communities.
Why Games Leave Game Pass
Games leave Game Pass when licensing agreements between Microsoft and publishers expire. These agreements vary significantly in length, with some games remaining on the service for years while others stay for only months. First-party Microsoft titles published by Xbox Game Studios typically remain permanently, while third-party games eventually cycle out as contracts end.
Publishers must decide whether to renew Game Pass agreements based on whether the exposure and guaranteed payment from Microsoft outweigh potential lost sales from players who would have purchased the game outright. For some publishers, Game Pass introduces their games to audiences who wouldn’t have bought them, while others feel the service cannibalizes full-price sales.
December 2025 Additions to Game Pass
While games leave Game Pass, new titles arrive to replace them. December 2025’s biggest addition is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the first-person adventure developed by MachineGames that launched December 4 as a day-one Game Pass release for Premium and PC Game Pass members. Other December additions include Routine, the first-person horror game set on an abandoned lunar base arriving December 4, and Mortal Kombat 1 joining December 10, notably replacing its predecessor Mortal Kombat 11 which leaves December 15.
Additional December games include A Game About Digging A Hole, Death Howl, and Dome Keeper on December 9, plus Bratz: Rhythm and Style on December 11. This steady flow of new content alongside departures maintains the Game Pass library’s size while keeping offerings fresh for subscribers.
FAQs
Are The Outer Worlds and Ancestors leaving Game Pass in December 2025?
This cannot be confirmed from official Microsoft communications. The official December 2025 departure list includes Mortal Kombat 11, Still Wakes the Deep, Wildfrost, Carrion, and Hell Let Loose, but does not mention The Outer Worlds or Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey.
What games are officially leaving Game Pass in December 2025?
Five games are confirmed: Mortal Kombat 11, Still Wakes the Deep, and Wildfrost leave December 15. Carrion and Hell Let Loose depart December 31.
How do I know which games are leaving Game Pass?
Check the leaving soon section in the Game Pass app or Xbox Wire blog for official announcements. Microsoft typically announces departures two weeks in advance, though the list can change until the actual removal date.
Can I buy games before they leave Game Pass?
Yes, games scheduled to leave receive 20 percent discounts for active Game Pass subscribers, allowing you to purchase them at reduced prices before removal.
Will The Outer Worlds 2 leave Game Pass?
Highly unlikely. The Outer Worlds 2 is published by Xbox Game Studios and developed by Microsoft-owned Obsidian Entertainment, making it a first-party title that typically remains on Game Pass permanently.
Why were Hollow Knight and Cataclismo saved from leaving?
Microsoft hasn’t officially explained, but the games were removed from the leaving soon list days before their scheduled December 15 departure, suggesting licensing agreements were extended or renegotiated.
When do games typically leave Game Pass?
Microsoft schedules removals on the 15th and last day of each month, with announcements approximately two weeks prior. However, specific timing varies and the company occasionally removes games mid-month.
Are first-party Xbox games permanent on Game Pass?
Generally yes. Games published by Xbox Game Studios and developed by Microsoft-owned studios typically remain on Game Pass indefinitely as they’re part of Microsoft’s portfolio.
Conclusion
The claim that The Outer Worlds and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey are leaving Xbox Game Pass in December 2025 cannot be verified through official Microsoft communications. The confirmed December departures are Mortal Kombat 11, Still Wakes the Deep, Wildfrost, Carrion, and Hell Let Loose. Confusion may arise from the Game Pass app’s leaving soon section changing throughout the month, with games like Hollow Knight and Cataclismo being removed from departure lists after initially appearing. For Game Pass subscribers concerned about specific games leaving, the best approach is checking the official leaving soon section in the Game Pass app regularly and monitoring Xbox Wire blog posts for official announcements. Games scheduled for departure receive 20 percent subscriber discounts, providing opportunity to purchase favorites at reduced prices before removal. As December 2025 demonstrated, even games appearing in leaving soon sections can be saved at the last minute through licensing renewals, so departure lists should be considered tentative until the actual removal date arrives. For accurate information about The Outer Worlds and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey specifically, subscribers should consult current Game Pass app listings or contact Xbox support directly rather than relying on unverified social media claims.