Xbox has shared its October 2026 Wave 2 lineup for Game Pass, with eight games joining the service. This announcement coincides with the Xbox Shocktober Sale, which PlayDayOne reports is currently live.
The Wave 2 announcement reveals the number of games, but we don’t have details on the individual titles, platforms, or release dates yet. We won’t list games we can’t verify. For the confirmed lineup, check Xbox Wire or the Game Pass tab on your console.
This sale gives Game Pass subscribers another reason to visit the Xbox store this month. Techloy has put together a roundup of nine Shocktober deals they think are worth checking out. We don’t have information on discount percentages or the full catalog size from the material provided.
In other news, Age of Empires IV is set to receive its 17.0 update. Jeu.video suggests players finish their saved games before the update. This warning indicates that in-progress saves might not transfer smoothly, but the summary doesn’t confirm the technical details or the release date. If you have unfinished matches or campaigns, it’s best to wait for the patch notes to clarify before updating.
| Games in Game Pass October 2026 Wave 2 | 8 |
| Games in Techloy’s Shocktober deals roundup | 9 |
| Age of Empires IV update version | 17.0 |
| Xbox Shocktober Sale status | Live |
Community Pulse
The source material doesn’t include player reviews, forum threads, or social media posts about Wave 2, the Shocktober Sale, or the AoE4 17.0 update. Therefore, we won’t attribute any quotes. We’ll add community reactions once we can gather verifiable sentiment data.
What To Watch
- The full Wave 2 title list and dates: Confirm which games are available on day one, the tiers they cover, and which platforms they support.
- Shocktober discount depth and end date: Compare sale prices with Game Pass inclusion to find out when buying is better than subscribing.
- AoE4 17.0 patch notes: Look for details on saved-game compatibility and release timing before you decide to update.
Marcus Webb
Marcus Webb covers esports, competitive gaming, and community stories for Explosion.com. A former semi-professional Counter-Strike player, Marcus transitioned to journalism 5 years ago and has since covered major tournaments including The International, League of Legends Worlds, and the Valorant Champions Tour. He brings a player's perspective to competitive gaming coverage and is known for his data-driven analysis of player performance and meta shifts.
