Microsoft has made a sudden and unexpected move by pulling Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from its Xbox Game Pass lineup, which was scheduled to be released on July 21, 2026. The decision to remove the game from the lineup was made without any explanation or justification, leaving fans and gamers alike confused and disappointed.
The removal of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the Xbox Game Pass lineup is particularly surprising, given that Microsoft acquired the rights to the game as part of its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This acquisition gave Microsoft complete control over the publishing of the title, which made it even more unexpected that the game would be removed from the lineup.
It’s worth noting that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 was set to be released on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass, which would have made it accessible to a large number of gamers. The game’s removal from the lineup has left many fans wondering if there is a licensing issue preventing the game from being released on Game Pass. This is a possibility, given that the game is music-heavy and may require special licensing agreements to be in place before it can be released on the platform.
Another theory is that Microsoft is resetting its Xbox business, which has seen significant changes in recent weeks. The company has cut 1,600 staff members and closed four studios, and it is expected that another 1,600 staff members will be let go over the course of the rest of the year. This has left the remaining staff members in an anxious wait to find out if they will be next on the chopping block.
Microsoft has stated that it will now focus on its biggest franchises, including Halo, The Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. This shift in focus may be a factor in the removal of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from the lineup, as the company may be prioritizing its own franchises over third-party titles.
The revised Xbox Game Pass lineup for the rest of July 2026 includes a number of new titles, including Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, Mavrix by Matt Jones, FixForce, Fogpiercer, and The Planet Crafter. These titles will be available on various platforms, including Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC.
It’s unclear at this time why Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 was removed from the Xbox Game Pass lineup, but it’s clear that the decision has left a number of gamers disappointed and confused. As the gaming industry continues to evolve and change, it’s likely that we will see more unexpected moves from major players like Microsoft.
