Microsoft unlocked six games for the Xbox Free Play Days event running from Thursday (15) to Sunday (18). The lineup gives Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential subscribers full weekend access to NBA 2K27, Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21 – Next Stop, Soccer Story, and Ravenswatch, while opening a timed trial of The Alters to all console and computer users.
Four of the subscription-based titles and the open trial went live on October 15, 2026. NBA 2K27 Standard Edition joins the rotation on Friday (16) with a separate promotional window that includes digital store bonuses running through the end of the month.
Schedule, discounts and bonuses in Xbox Free Play Days until October 29
Players who decide to purchase any of the featured games during the promotional period can take advantage of limited-time price reductions on the Xbox Store while keeping all Gamerscore and Achievements earned during the trial. Discounts, percentages, and title availability vary by product and geographic region.
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- Thursday, October 15, 2026: Free access begins for Crusader Kings III, Bus Simulator 21 – Next Stop, Soccer Story, Ravenswatch, and the timed trial of The Alters.
- Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. BRT (12:00 p.m. PDT): Free access opens for NBA 2K27 Standard Edition and the digital purchase bonus campaign begins.
- Sunday, October 18, 2026: Official closing date announced by Xbox for the weekend free play period across all six titles.
- Thursday, October 29, 2026: Final day to purchase any digital edition of NBA 2K27 and receive an Xbox Gift Card plus a bundle of 15,000 Virtual Currency (VC) units.
- Store price reductions during the weekend event: 85% off on Soccer Story, 65% off on Ravenswatch, and 55% off on The Alters.
The exact monetary value of the Xbox Gift Card granted in the NBA 2K27 digital purchase promotion has not been detailed in the public announcement.
Gameplay details for NBA 2K27, Ravenswatch and The Alters
Survival title The Alters does not require a Game Pass membership, offering a three-hour timed trial to every Xbox player. The game challenges users to build a base, manage resources, and maintain the mental well-being of alternative versions of the main character while confronting past choices and regret. For subscribers, the arrival of NBA 2K27 allows players to create a custom athlete in the MyPLAYER mode to compete in the City, build a career legacy in MyCAREER, or play with NBA and WNBA rosters in the Play Now mode. This installment marks the first time in the history of the basketball franchise that the game supports the Xbox Play Anywhere feature, which lets users play across consoles, PC, and handheld devices.
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Action roguelike Ravenswatch enters the free weekend shortly after celebrating its second anniversary, an update that revamped talents across all playable characters and introduced Kintaro, a new hero inspired by Japanese folklore who fights alongside a bear companion. The title supports solo play or online cooperative sessions for up to four players as users collect items and strengthen abilities to face nightmares. Meanwhile, Crusader Kings III puts players in charge of a noble house during the Middle Ages to guide a family dynasty through warfare and political intrigue, Bus Simulator 21 – Next Stop offers licensed buses across two open-world cities in single-player or online multiplayer modes, and Soccer Story tasks players with using a magic soccer ball to restore the sport after a corporation named Soccer Inc. shuts down all local stadiums, teams, and tournaments.
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Supported platforms and studios in Xbox Free Play Days
Hardware compatibility and publishing partnerships vary across the six titles selected for the October 2026 event, spanning two console generations and Windows computers.
- NBA 2K27: Published by 2K, supported on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and handheld devices via Xbox Play Anywhere.
- Crusader Kings III: Published by Paradox Interactive, supported on Xbox Series X|S.
- Ravenswatch: Published by Nacon, supported on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
- The Alters: Published by 11 bit studios, supported on Xbox Series X|S and Windows.
- Bus Simulator 21 – Next Stop: Published by astragon, supported on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
- Soccer Story: Published by No More Robots, supported on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.
How to download the Xbox Free Play Days titles on console and web
To install the games directly on an Xbox console, users must open the Xbox Store, select the Subscriptions tab on the home screen, and navigate to the Free Play Days collection. Players accessing the catalog via web browser can visit the individual game pages on the official Xbox website, which redirects to the Microsoft Store; users must be signed in with the account linked to their active Xbox Game Pass membership to view the free installation option. In Brazil, the local operation is registered under Microsoft do Brasil Importação e Comércio de Software e Vídeo Games Ltda., headquartered at Avenida Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek, 1,909, 18th floor of the South Tower at SP Corporate Towers, in the Vila Nova Conceição neighborhood of São Paulo.
