Table of Contents

1. Official Confirmation and Departure Date
2. Complete List of Games Leaving April 15
3. The GTA 6 Connection: Strategic Timing Explained
4. GTA 5's Xbox Game Pass History: A Pattern Emerges
5. What Happens to Your Progress and GTA Online Access
6. Current Discounts and Alternatives
7. What's Coming to Game Pass in April 2026
8. Frequently Asked Questions

Official Confirmation and Departure Date

On the morning of April 2, 2026, Microsoft updated the Xbox Game Pass website to reveal five titles leaving the service at the halfway point this month , with Grand Theft Auto 5 set to depart on April 15, 2026 .

As revealed through the Xbox App on PC, players will see GTA 5 and four more games leave Game Pass this month, including Grand Theft Auto V (Enhanced and Legacy Editions), Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes, Terra Invicta, My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery, and Ashen .

Both Versions Are Leaving

The most notable departure is GTA V, which will no longer be available in either its enhanced version for Xbox Series consoles or its original Xbox One version . This means whether you've been playing the ray-traced Enhanced edition or the Legacy version, both will disappear from the Game Pass library simultaneously.

How Players Were Notified

According to folks at PureXbox, five titles are set to depart from the gaming service, as they were flagged as "leaving soon" in the official Xbox mobile app . If you're a Game Pass subscriber, you should see the "Leaving Soon" badge when browsing GTA 5 in the Xbox app on console, PC, or mobile devices.

Complete List of Games Leaving April 15

While GTA 5 grabs the headlines, four other titles are also exiting the Xbox Game Pass catalog on the same date:

Notable Details About Each Departure

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a classic-style JRPG developed by Rabbit & Bear Studios, a team made up of veterans from the beloved Suikoden series. The game launched in April 2024 and received generally favorable reviews, holding a Metacritic score of 79 on PC, and was praised as a love letter to classic JRPGs, offering over 100 recruitable characters .

Terra Invicta is currently only available on PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate, so Essential users haven't been able to play it. In September 2025, Microsoft mistakenly announced Terra Invicta was leaving Xbox Game Pass, issuing a correction that the game is, in fact, staying six days after claiming it was leaving . This time, the departure appears to be final.

Rounding out the list is Annapurna Interactive's Ashen. Originally an Xbox exclusive, Ashen was one of the best RPGs of 2018 , offering a minimalist take on the Souls-like formula with unique co-op mechanics.

The GTA 6 Connection: Strategic Timing Explained

The timing of GTA 5's removal is no coincidence. Take-Two Interactive has reiterated that Grand Theft Auto 6 is on track for its November 19, 2026 release date , putting the GTA 5 Game Pass exit exactly seven months before the highly anticipated sequel launches.

Why Rockstar Is Pulling GTA 5 Now

It's speculated that Rockstar will ramp up its marketing efforts for the game this Summer, so it's a fitting time to take GTA 5 off Xbox Game Pass. Removing the old GTA from many gamers' libraries is an easy way to leave audiences hungry for more right before promoting the new one .

According to industry analysis, this strategic move serves three key purposes:

1. Revenue Pressure: It creates purchase pressure, creating a surge of revenue for Take-Two from every Game Pass subscriber who converts to a paid purchase
2. Clearing the Stage: Rockstar does not want potential customers playing the predecessor for free through a subscription service
3. Value Positioning: Removing the free alternative makes GTA 6's premium pricing more palatable when it launches in November

GTA 6 Marketing Timeline

The departure of GTA 5 comes at a strategic time for Rockstar Games. The title leaves the catalog a few months before the start of the GTA 6 marketing campaign, scheduled to begin in the summer of 2026. The publisher Take-Two Interactive, through its CEO Strauss Zelnick, indicated that more intense promotion of the new game should occur from that time onwards .

For Filipino gamers planning to purchase GTA 6 at launch, you might want to check out our guide on how to earn GCash for gaming purchases to prepare for the November release.

GTA 5's Xbox Game Pass History: A Pattern Emerges

Grand Theft Auto V will exit the Xbox Game Pass library on 15 April 2026 — exactly twelve months after its most recent return. Previous stints were considerably shorter: four months each in 2020 and 2021, and six months from July 2023 to January 2024. The current run marks a clear record .

The Complete Timeline

Worth noting: the April 2025 return was also the first time GTA V became available to PC Game Pass subscribers, not just console members. That expanded the game's reach considerably compared to prior appearances .

The Recurring Pattern

Anyone who's subscribed to the service for a while will know this isn't the first time this has happened. Rockstar's massively popular crime sim left the platform in early 2024 before coming back in April 2025 .

This cyclical pattern suggests Rockstar and Take-Two use Game Pass strategically—adding GTA 5 during quieter periods to drive engagement, then removing it when they want to maximize direct sales or prepare for major announcements.

What Previous Leaks Revealed About Costs

In September 2023, a major Xbox leak revealed how much the company expects to pay to get Rockstar's game on Game Pass. Microsoft also noted they would expect Take-Two to ask for around $12 to $15 million a month to be on Game Pass for approximately 30 million hours of time played in the game .

At those rates, GTA 5's 12-month stay could have cost Microsoft somewhere between $144-180 million in licensing fees—demonstrating just how valuable the title remains even 13 years after its original 2013 release.

What Happens to Your Progress and GTA Online Access

If you've been playing GTA 5 through Game Pass, here's exactly what happens when the game leaves on April 15:

Story Mode Progress

• Saves Remain: All your single-player progress, completed missions, and unlocked items stay saved to your Xbox profile
• Can't Launch: You won't be able to launch the game unless you purchase it
• Purchase Restores Access: If you buy GTA 5, you can immediately continue from where you left off

GTA Online Access

If Game Pass is your only access, GTA Online goes away with it on April 15. You can still play GTA Online after GTA V leaves Game Pass, but only if you own Grand Theft Auto V .

Who Is NOT Affected

Players who already own GTA V are not losing their copy through this change . If you:

• Purchased GTA 5 digitally before it came to Game Pass
• Own a physical disc copy
• Bought the game during any previous Game Pass discount period

...then you'll continue playing without interruption. The removal only affects those accessing the game exclusively through their Game Pass subscription.

How to Check Your Ownership Status

Check whether your Xbox copy of Grand Theft Auto V comes from Game Pass or from a purchase by following these steps:

1. Go to "My Games & Apps" on your Xbox
2. Find Grand Theft Auto V in your library
3. Press the Menu button (three horizontal lines)
4. Select "Manage game and add-ons"
5. If you see a Game Pass logo or "Xbox Game Pass" listed as the source, you're playing via subscription
6. If you see a purchase date or "Owned" status, you have a permanent license

Current Discounts and Alternatives

You'll find discounts of at least 20% on all of these Xbox Game Pass titles until they leave on April 15th, and some (such as GTA V and Eiyuden Chronicle) are reduced even further as part of the Xbox Spring Sale 2026 .

How to Purchase Before It Leaves

Xbox Game Pass discounts the game by 20% so before it leaves you can purchase it digitally a little bit cheaper . Here's how to take advantage:

1. Open the Xbox Game Pass app or Microsoft Store
2. Search for "Grand Theft Auto V"
3. Select either the Enhanced or Legacy edition (or bundles)
4. The Game Pass member discount applies automatically at checkout
5. Purchase before April 15 to keep the discounted price

Should You Buy GTA 5 Now or Wait?

Buy Now If:

• You're actively playing GTA Online and have invested time/money in your character
• You haven't finished the story mode and want to complete it
• You want the Enhanced edition features (ray tracing, improved performance on Xbox Series X/S)
• The 20%+ discount makes it worthwhile for you

Wait If:

• GTA 6 launches in 7 months and you'd rather save money for that
• You've already completed everything you wanted in GTA 5
• You're waiting to see if it returns to Game Pass again in the future
• You primarily play other games and GTA 5 was just occasional entertainment

Alternative Ways to Play GTA 5

If you don't want to purchase GTA 5 right now, here are your options:

• Wait for sales: GTA 5 frequently goes on sale during major Xbox sales events (Summer Sale, Black Friday, etc.)
• Physical copies: Used physical discs can often be found cheaper than digital versions
• Game sharing: If a family member owns it digitally and you're in the same Xbox Home sharing group, you might have access
• Possible return to Game Pass: Based on history, GTA 5 could return to Game Pass again, though timing is unpredictable

What's Coming to Game Pass in April 2026

While losing GTA 5 stings, March 2026 brought in a solid lineup across two waves. Wave 1 included Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, EA Sports F1 25, and Cyberpunk 2077, among others. Wave 2 then added Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the latter of which took home Game of the Year for 2025 .

Confirmed April 2026 Additions

We've got some amazing stuff confirmed for Xbox Game Pass in April 2026 to lessen the blow, including the day one arrivals of Hades 2, Replaced, Aphelion, Kiln and Vampire Crawlers !

In late March, Microsoft unveiled seven games coming to Xbox Game Pass in April 2026. Those additions include Final Fantasy 4 to continue the trend of FF titles coming to the service each month, and the fan-favorite roguelike Hades 2 .

What to Play Instead of GTA 5

If you're looking for open-world experiences currently on Game Pass after GTA 5 leaves:

• Cyberpunk 2077 (Added March 2026) - Massive open-world RPG with deep story and combat
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Modern RPG with vibrant open world and engaging combat
• Starfield - Bethesda's space RPG with exploration and base building
• Forza Horizon 5 - If you enjoyed GTA's driving, this offers the best racing on Game Pass

For multiplayer alternatives to GTA Online, check out our guide on free ways to enjoy online gaming experiences without spending extra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Act Before April 15

The removal of GTA 5 from Xbox Game Pass marks a significant shift in Rockstar's strategy as the company pivots toward GTA 6's November launch. You still have close to 2 weeks to try the games out and decide whether you want to purchase; some of them are also offering discounts .

According to financial reports, the title has shipped over 215 million units as of late 2025, making it one of the best-selling games in history —and for Game Pass subscribers who've enjoyed it this past year, the decision to purchase or let it go is now front and center.

Whether you choose to purchase GTA 5 at a discount or move on to the excellent lineup of April additions, there's no shortage of gaming experiences on Xbox Game Pass. And with GTA 6 just seven months away, this might be the perfect time to clear your backlog and save your gaming budget for Rockstar's next masterpiece.

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Stay tuned to smartly.sale for all the latest GTA 6 news, Xbox Game Pass updates, and the best gaming deals available to Filipino gamers.