Xbox Game Pass Subscribers are used to games coming and going from the service’s library of titles. Xbox is constantly looking for partnerships to bring games to Xbox Game Pass, but these deals are often temporary. This means that important third-party Xbox Game Pass additions will eventually reach their end of life. Such is the case with one of the service’s biggest Xbox Game Pass sports games, as NBA 2K22 appears to be leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of August.
Several Xbox Game Pass users are reporting on social media that the Xbox Game Pass app has dropped a confirmation notification NBA 2K22 nearing the end of its availability. The message reads: “NBA 2K22 returns to the bench on August 31,” and follows it with a message encouraging players to purchase the full game at a 20% discount. The ones having fun NBA 2K22 on Xbox Game Pass need to make the most of the coming weeks.
Although the message appears authentic, it is still questionable whether it is completely correct. For one, the news was only shared on the Xbox Game Pass app and was not confirmed through other Xbox media channels. Also, it’s unclear if the message is for a specific region or for all Xbox Game Pass subscribers. There is also a possibility that it was sent in error.
It seems a bit strange that NBA 2K22 would leave Xbox Game Pass. It wasn’t added to the service’s games library until late April, meaning it’s only been available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers for about three and a half months. A fourth-month stint on Xbox Game Pass isn’t uncommon, but it’s surprising for such a big game. It’s particularly unfortunate given that no other basketball games are available on Xbox Game Pass.
There are, of course, plenty of Xbox Game Pass and basketball fans who are totally fine with that NBA 2K22 Leaving the service believing it’s not a good fit. NBA 2K22 is a huge 120GB download, which isn’t exactly optimal for a subscription service that encourages browsing and trying out different games. NBA 2K22 is also heavily criticized for certain design choices and their monetization.
Regardless, fans of basketball games should probably start planning around NBA 2K22 Leaving the service on August 31st. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding and Xbox Game Pass subscribers can continue playing NBA 2K22 forward, but it seems unlikely. Otherwise, it’s an opportunity for basketball fans to let Xbox know they want more sports games Xbox Game Pass.
