A Fond Farewell: Four More Games, Including the Ninja Gaiden Trilogy, Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass

The rotating library of Xbox Game Pass is a double-edged sword: for every new game that arrives, a few more must leave. As September 2025 comes to a close, Microsoft has officially announced the second wave of titles that are set to depart the service, and the list includes some heavy hitters. Most notably, the full Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection, which includes three mainline games, will be leaving on September 30. The departure of these games, along with one other title, is a bitter pill to swallow for many players, particularly as it comes just weeks before the highly anticipated launch of the next game in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4. This news serves as an urgent reminder for subscribers to play these games before they are gone forever, or to take advantage of the special discount to purchase them before they leave the service.

The games that are set to leave Xbox Game Pass on September 30, 2025, are:

• Ninja Gaiden Sigma (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC)

The departure of the Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is particularly frustrating for fans. The series is known for its challenging, fast-paced combat and its over-the-top action, and the Master Collection is the most accessible way to play the first three games in the series on modern platforms. The timing is also a major point of contention within the community, as it is a curious decision by Microsoft to remove these titles just before the highly anticipated launch of Ninja Gaiden 4, which will be a day-one addition to Game Pass on October 21. For players who were hoping to play through the trilogy before jumping into the new game, the clock is now ticking. While the removal of the games is a disappointment, it is important to note that Ninja Gaiden Black 2, a separate Unreal Engine 5 remake that was released earlier this year, will remain on the service for the foreseeable future.

The SEO of a Departure: High-Value Keywords for a Time-Sensitive Audience

The conversation around games leaving a subscription service is a powerful driver of search traffic, as it taps into a high degree of user interest and a need for actionable, time-sensitive information. The combination of a high-profile departure, its relevance to a new game, and its limited availability makes this an essential topic to cover. The core of this story is a high-intent search query: “what games are leaving Xbox Game Pass?”

• Xbox Game Pass Games Leaving: This is the most direct and high-intent term, targeting the massive audience of subscribers who are actively looking for a comprehensive list of titles that are set to depart the service. It is a high-CPC (Cost-Per-Click) term.
• Ninja Gaiden Master Collection: This is a crucial keyword for attracting the dedicated audience of action-game fans who are looking for information on the departure of the trilogy.
• Ninja Gaiden Game Pass: The departure of the trilogy is a major part of the game’s overall lifecycle on the service. This keyword is great for capturing a broader audience of players who are looking for information on the series’ presence on the service.
• Terra Invicta Game Pass: The departure of a PC-only title is also a key part of the story. This specific, long-tail keyword is crucial for capturing the audience of grand strategy fans.
• Games Leaving Game Pass September 2025: This is an excellent keyword for capturing the audience that is looking for a comprehensive list of titles that are leaving the service in a specific month.
• Ninja Gaiden 4: The new game’s release is directly tied to the departure of the trilogy. This keyword is a powerful search term for attracting an audience that is looking for information on the next game in the series.

A Curious Timing and a Missed Opportunity

The departure of the Ninja Gaiden trilogy just before the release of the new game is a particularly strange decision. Many in the community have speculated that it is a strategic move to encourage players to purchase the new game, rather than relying on the older titles to provide context. However, others see it as a missed opportunity to leverage the back catalog to generate hype for the new release. Whatever the reason, the departure of these games is a painful reminder that the digital age of gaming is a fleeting one. For now, players have until the end of the month to either complete these challenging titles or to purchase them at a discount before they are gone forever.

The Game Pass library is a constantly changing beast, and this latest wave of removals is a stark reminder of the impermanence of digital ownership. For many, the Ninja Gaiden trilogy will be a casualty of this system, but for a few dedicated players, it will be a race to the finish line.

The clock is ticking, and the deadline is fast approaching.

Disclaimer: Xbox Game Pass titles are subject to change. The information in this article is based on the most recent official announcements and leaks.