5 highlights from Xbox's massive October 5 release slate

The Xbox release slate for the week of October 5 through October 9 is heavy on major franchises and time loops. According to the official Xbox Wire roundup, the platform is getting a mix of high-profile day-one Game Pass additions and massive catalog bundles. Microsoft and The Coalition first announced the new Gears prequel back in June 2024, and it finally arrives this Tuesday.

Here are five games worth your time from this week's lineup.

1. Gears of War: E-Day

The Coalition is taking the timeline back 14 years before the original 2006 game. Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago are back for the initial Emergence Day invasion, and the whole thing is built on Unreal Engine 5. It hits Game Pass on October 6, or you can buy it outright for $69.99. I want to see how the reimagined Horde Siege mode handles the new engine tech.

2. STAR WARS: Galactic Racer

Secret Mode is publishing a runs-based racing game set in the Outer Rim, and it completely ignores the Jedi. The premise focuses on an unsanctioned underground racing circuit called the Galactic League that popped up after the Empire fell. It costs $59.99 and launches October 6. A Star Wars racing game without pod racers or Force powers is a weird pitch, but I am curious how the syndicate sponsorship mechanics actually play out on the track.

3. KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I～III]

Square Enix is bundling the entire Dark Seeker saga into one $74.99 package on October 6. This includes the 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, the 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III with the Re Mind DLC. You probably already own three of these on other platforms. Having them all under one Xbox Play Anywhere license is convenient if you want to jump between a console and a PC.

4. Echo Weaver

Akupara Games drops this time-loop Metroidvania onto Game Pass on October 8. Instead of hunting down double-jump boots or missile upgrades, your progression is tied to knowledge. You play as the last Weaver, learning how to exploit time anomalies to break the cycle. Gating a map behind information rather than inventory items is a great concept.

5. Hidden Dogs

Sometimes you just need to find 500 dogs on a map. Silesia Games is releasing this hand-drawn hidden object game on October 7. It features 15 levels set in the English countryside, and finding the dogs makes the map animate with moving vehicles. It is a simple palate cleanser between the heavier releases this week.

Game Pass subscribers are getting a solid deal this week between the blockbuster shooter action of E-Day and the indie puzzle mechanics of Echo Weaver. The rest of the week fills out with smaller titles like Titanic Escape Simulator and Neon Abyss 2.