Xbox Game Pass adds new advantages: early trials, improvements and exclusive rewards in August

Hellblade II, Sea of Thieves, and Madden 26 receive extra content while free-to-play games expand benefits this month with Xbox Game Pass.

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The arrival of new titles to Xbox Game Pass in August is not the only good news for subscribers to the service. This week, major improvements, additional content, and special perks have also been confirmed for several games already available on console, PC, and cloud.

Among the highlights are early trials for highly anticipated games, technical updates that enhance the graphical experience, and a new batch of free rewards for the main free-to-play titles in the catalog. All of this at no extra cost for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass users.

New updates, trials, and perks for Game Pass

• EA Sports Madden NFL 26 – Early trial available on August 7
  Access a 10-hour trial on console, cloud, and PC with Game Pass Ultimate thanks to EA Play. Includes rewards for Ultimate Team, 10% discount on purchase, and early access through the Xbox app on PC.
• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Enhanced – Available on August 12
  Senua’s brutal story gets an update with a performance mode on Xbox Series X, improved graphics for PC with the Very High setting, new Dark Rot combat mode, expanded Photo Mode options, and developer commentary.

Sea of Thieves – Season 17 – Available on August 14
The new content introduces smuggling routes, organized assault plans by the Smugglers’ League, and reinforced skeletal forts. A season packed with cooperative action and risky decisions.

Special rewards in free games with Game Pass

• Smite 2 – From August 6: claim Poseidon and his Phantom Seas skin.

• Naraka Bladepoint – From August 7: get the Phoenix Princess Pack with exclusive appearance, trial of all heroes, and more special content.

• War Thunder – From August 12: package with boosters, premium days, 150,000 coins, and USA starter pack.

• Enlisted – From August 12: improvements for squads, orders, premium coins, and access to the USA Starter Pack.

• Call of Duty: Warzone / Black Ops 6 – From August 14: third Game Pass package with skins, blueprints, gestures, charms, experience boosters, and more.

Exclusive limited-time perk

Sea of Thieves – Rare Ruby Emote – From August 5
Celebrate Rare’s 40th anniversary with an exclusive emote decorated with a ruby, available only to Game Pass Ultimate members.