September is a huge month for sports games with several big titles on the horizon, with NBA 2K26 among those poised for launch, and we’ve got the details on whether Game Pass subscribers have access to the game.
Releasing fully on September 5, though it’s available from August 29 for those with early access, NBA 2K26 is the latest entry in the long-running franchise and is always among the most popular games every year.
With September stacked full of big releases, a Game Pass subscription can save you some money, and we’ve got details on whether the service includes NBA 2K26.
Can You Play NBA 2K26 on Xbox Game Pass?
No, NBA 2K26 will not be available to play with an Xbox Game Pass subscription when it launches on September 5th.
NBA 2K26 is not an Xbox first-party title, which would see it immediately made available through the service. Unlike rivals EA Sports, there’s no free trial period with a Game Pass subscription either.
Although the first wave of titles launching on Game Pass in September is yet to be announced, NBA 2K26 is a huge release and, if it were to be on the service, we’d have been told by now. On top of this, the Xbox Store page would have a button that states the title would be ‘Coming to Game Pass’ alongside the purchase option.
With no such announcement and no Game Pass badge on the store page, the game will definitely not be on the service at launch.
Will NBA 2K26 Come to Xbox Game Pass?
NBA 2K26 could come to the Xbox Game Pass service in the future, although no official word has confirmed this.
2K has a close relationship with Xbox, with a free-play weekend for Game Pass subscribers for NBA 2K25 last year, while NBA 2K24 had a six-month stint on the service previously.
Other 2K titles, like Borderlands, have also regularly appeared on the Game Pass service, and the cycle of sports games usually sees them move to the service in the final few months of their lifespan before the latest release is dropped.
Therefore, if NBA 2K26 is to come to the service, don’t expect it to occur before 2026, unless a free-play weekend or a similar incentive is announced later in the year.
Have you purchased NBA 2K26? What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know during the Insider Gaming forum.
For more NBA 2K26, check out the full soundtrack of 43 songs, and take a look at the latest trailer for the MyCareer mode.
