Microsoft has unexpectedly pulled Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 from its July 2026 Xbox Game Pass offerings, leaving subscribers without an explanation. The skateboarding title was slated to arrive on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass on July 21.
A note on the official Xbox Wire post detailing the Game Pass additions now states, "Editor’s Note (7/13): We’ve removed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the list of titles coming soon to Game Pass." This change comes despite Microsoft's ownership of the game through its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which places the company in complete control of the title's publishing.
Speculation suggests potential licensing issues, particularly concerning the game's music library, could be a factor in its withdrawal. However, this seems unlikely given the game's release nearly six years ago and Microsoft's awareness of such matters before announcing its inclusion. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 was added to various Game Pass tiers around this time last year, and more recently to Game Pass Premium.
The removal occurs amidst a period of significant restructuring at Xbox, which recently saw the layoff of 1,600 employees and the closure of four studios. Microsoft has indicated a strategic shift towards focusing on its largest franchises, such as Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. An additional 1,600 staff are expected to be let go throughout the remainder of the financial year, leading to uncertainty among remaining employees.
The revised Xbox Game Pass lineup for the rest of July 2026 now includes:
- Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – July 15
- Mavrix by Matt Jones (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – July 16
- FixForce (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – July 17
- Fogpiercer (PC) – July 17
- The Planet Crafter (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – July 21