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Xbox Free Play Days November 2026: Eight Offers and Game Pass Rules
November 6, 2026Xbox’s November 2026 Free Play Days promotion has eight offers, split between five Game Pass games, a two-hour IXION trial and two games that do not require Game Pass.
Xbox Free Play Days runs from Thursday, November 5 through Sunday, November 8, 2026, with eight distinct offers. They do not all provide the same type of access: five games require an eligible Game Pass plan, IXION is limited to a two-hour trial, and two games are open to all Xbox members without Game Pass.
Before starting a download, check which group your chosen game falls into. Xbox has confirmed the overall November 5–8 window, while warning that availability and discounts can differ by title and region. Xbox’s official Free Play Days announcement provides the access rules summarized below.
Which Xbox Free Play Days games require Game Pass?
You need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential for these five Free Play Days games:
- PAYDAY 3
- Nowhere Prophet
- BALL x PIT
- Deceive Inc.
- Age of Wonders 4
Xbox groups those five games under its “Game Pass Membership Required” category. If you need help distinguishing the subscription options, TheDashDouble’s guide to Game Pass plan differences provides additional context.
IXION is a two-hour trial, not a full-weekend unlock
IXION is the exception most likely to cause confusion. Xbox describes its promotion as a two-hour trial available during the November 5–8 event, not as unrestricted access for the entire weekend. Check the Xbox Store listing shown to your account before downloading.
That distinction is also why this promotion is best counted as eight offers rather than six. It contains five Game Pass games, one timed IXION trial and two games that do not require an eligible Game Pass plan.
Which games are available without Game Pass?
Anno 117: Pax Romana and Crime Boss: Rockay City can be tried by all Xbox members during the November 5–8 period. Xbox specifically says that Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential is not required for these two offers.
These are the two relevant choices if you do not have one of the eligible Game Pass plans. Access rules can vary within a single promotion; TheDashDouble’s earlier guide explains more about how Xbox Free Play Days access rules work.
PAYDAY 3 has a separately published end time
Xbox gives calendar dates rather than a universal cutoff time for the wider promotion, so players should not assume that every offer expires at the same hour on November 8. PAYDAY 3 is the one game in this lineup with a separately published Xbox Series X|S schedule: its publisher lists the free weekend as running from 17:00 CET on November 5 until 06:59 CET on November 9.
That timing applies to PAYDAY 3 and should not be generalized to the other seven offers. For those games, Xbox’s confirmed guidance remains the November 5–8 Free Play Days window. PAYDAY 3’s publisher also says progress made during the free weekend carries over if the game is purchased afterwards. The complete platform schedule is available in the official PAYDAY 3 free-weekend announcement.
How to download the Free Play Days games on Xbox
On an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console, open the Xbox Store, select the Subscriptions tab and navigate to the Free Play Days collection. Choose the game you want, then check the access requirement displayed for your account.
Do not rely on a sale label alone to determine what the promotion includes. Xbox says discounts, percentages and title availability may vary by game and region, and its announcement does not provide a universal precise expiration time for every offer. If you plan to play near the end of the promotion, check the local store listing and allow time for the download.
Xbox Free Play Days November 2026 access checklist
- Have Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential? The membership-required lineup consists of PAYDAY 3, Nowhere Prophet, BALL x PIT, Deceive Inc. and Age of Wonders 4.
- Want to try IXION? Xbox limits this offer to two hours during the event window rather than providing unrestricted weekend access.
- Do not have an eligible Game Pass plan? Anno 117: Pax Romana and Crime Boss: Rockay City are open to all Xbox members.
- Playing PAYDAY 3? Its publisher lists a specific Xbox Series X|S end time of 06:59 CET on November 9, but that schedule is not established for the other games.
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing video games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!
