Microsoft has added another day-one title to Xbox Game Pass with the release of Ascend to Zero, continuing its steady rollout of new games for subscribers. The action roguelike from Flyway Games, a subsidiary of Krafton, arrived on July 13 for Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S, becoming the 111th game to join the Game Pass library in 2026 and the third addition this month.
The latest update also gives players a clearer picture of what's ahead, with Microsoft confirming a packed release schedule featuring several day-one launches stretching into early 2027.
Whereas Ascend to Zero uses some conventions of the survivors-like genre, it follows another approach for gameplay mechanics. Instead of giving the player the task to stay alive for as long as possible, in the game the player is expected to go as far as possible within 30 seconds only.
Time itself becomes an integral part of the strategy in the game, as the player may freeze the enemies, get additional time for fighting with the bosses, and manage time usage in a proper way in order to advance further. This leads to much more aggressive gameplay, where speed matters.
There are six characters available in the game with their particular features and development possibilities. During one run, the player gathers XP, equipment, tech chips, and upgrades his character really fast, up to unbelievably high levels.
Microsoft's updated Game Pass roadmap includes a mix of new IPs and returning fan favourites over the coming months.
The updated lineup shows Microsoft continuing to invest heavily in day-one releases for Game Pass subscribers. Big franchises such as Halo, Gears of War, Fable and Minecraft are joined by a growing number of indie and third-party titles, giving subscribers a diverse lineup to look forward to through the rest of 2026 and into 2027.