Xbox Game Pass' Brand-New Day One Release Will Scratch Your Zelda Itch

A brand-new day-one release on Xbox Game Pass will arrive soon, and it may scratch your itch for a new The Legend of Zelda experience that doesn’t necessarily come from Nintendo itself. Based on Microsoft’s statement last year, day-one releases on the subscription service are to become more common in 2026 and onward. This is already being represented by the day-one Xbox Game Pass release of a highly anticipated sequel just a few days ago.

There are even more day-one titles arriving later this year. For example, Forza Horizon 6 will be released as a day-one game on the subscription service’s catalog in May, while the release of the long-awaited Fable will also happen on day-one, on a yet-to-be announced date in Autumn. In addition to these two notable games, there is still another title arriving soon for free on Xbox Game Pass.

Zelda Fans Won’t Want To Miss This Game Pass Freebie

Beast Of Reincarnation Is Set In A Fantasy-Led Post-Apocalyptic Setting

Fans of The Legend of Zelda games may want to keep an eye out for one of 2026’s biggest game releases: Beast of Reincarnation. Created by Game Freak, the same studio behind the core Pokémon games, Beast of Reincarnation is a new action RPG set to arrive later this year, and it will be featured as part of the Xbox Game Pass catalog on day one. The title follows a character known as Emma, who can use special powers to manipulate plants as both a means of exploration and combat.

Emma is accompanied by a large wolf-like dog called Koo, and together they roam the land to clear the blight that has taken over this reinterpretation of what would be a post-apocalyptic Japan. Even though the game can be more easily compared to titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, NieR: Automata, and even movies like Princess Mononoke, Beast of Reincarnation does share similarities with Zelda, especially when it comes to the tone of its post-apocalyptic setting.

Beast Of Reincarnation Is An August Day One Drop

The Release Date Was Announced During Sony’s Recent State Of Play

Beast of Reincarnation protagonist Emma and her white wolf Koo standing in tall grass in front of some collapsed infrastructure.

The Game Freak title had been featured in Xbox’s Developer Direct showcase in late January, highlighting a Summer release window for it. However, it has been revealed that the release date for Beast of Reincarnation is set for August 4 – the reveal came through the most recent State of Play event by Sony. Although the release date has been highlighted by PlayStation, the game is arriving as a day-one treat for Xbox Game Pass members.

It is worth noting that, as a day-one release, Beast of Reincarnation will only be available for the Ultimate and PC Game Pass tiers, which are the ones that receive day-one titles since the rework of the subscription service’s structure. This will be one of the big new additions to Xbox Game Pass in 2026, and the fact that it’s a Zelda-like game from the developers of one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises means you should keep it on your radar.