Friday, September 25, 2026 is a Game Pass ladder day first and a launch day second. Rematch finally reaches the Essential tier most households keep active, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 expands onto Premium after nearly two years on Ultimate and PC Game Pass, and EA Sports FC 27 opens its worldwide Standard unlock. The chart below is who should act today.
| Title | Essential | Premium | Ultimate / PC Game Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rematch | Live today (Series X|S, PC, Cloud) | Already available | Already available |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | Not included | Live today (cloud, console, handheld, PC)* | Unchanged since Oct 2024 |
| EA Sports FC 27 | — | — | 10-hour EA Play trial (Ultimate) |
*Activision notes Premium subscribers still need Essential for online Multiplayer and Zombies.
Rematch is live on Game Pass Essential
Xbox Wire’s September Wave 2 calendar and today’s Pure Xbox and GameRant coverage agree on the gate: Rematch is now included with Game Pass Essential on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and cloud. That is the first clearly timed Essential add since July and, by GameRant’s 2026 tally, the 21st title to join the entry-level library this year. Ultimate and Premium owners already had it; today is for Essential-only households that could not open it on the subscription before.
Sloclap’s pitch remains the third-person 5v5 football game with no offsides, no fouls, and one athlete under your full control. A morning check of the Xbox.com store listing shows cloud play included with Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. On Steam, buy-to-own Standard is currently $11.99 after a 60% cut from $29.99 if you want a permanent license outside the Pass.
Black Ops 6 expands to Game Pass Premium
Xbox Wire lists Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 for today as “Now with Game Pass Premium” across cloud, console, handheld, and PC. That is an expansion, not a day-one arrival. BO6 has been on Ultimate and PC Game Pass since its October 2024 launch, so those tiers see no change. Premium owners are the ones unlocking campaign, multiplayer, and round-based Zombies through the subscription today.
Two caveats sit next to the install button. Activision still requires Premium players to hold Essential for online Multiplayer and Zombies, and the Microsoft Store / Xbox app path is the Game Pass route on PC. If you already own BO6 outright, none of this changes your library.
EA Sports FC 27 opens worldwide
Electronic Arts set September 25 as the worldwide Standard unlock for EA Sports FC 27 on PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S and One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Ultimate and Ultimate Plus early access started September 18. Pure Xbox confirms the full game is out on Xbox today, with Game Pass Ultimate members getting the 10-hour EA Play trial rather than the boxed game included. Steam’s US storefront lists Standard at $69.99 with no launch discount this morning.
One platform note still trips people up: EA’s buy page spells out that The Grounds, including Clubs, is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, not on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or the original Switch. Match the edition to a current-gen or Switch 2 box if that mode is why you are buying.
Free Play Days run through Sunday
Xbox Wire keeps PGA TOUR 2K25 and Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 free for all Xbox members through Sunday, September 27, with no Game Pass required. The Escapists 2 and Young Suns sit on the Essential, Premium, and Ultimate track over the same window. Division 2 lists a keep-it discount as high as 90% off Standard during the event, though regional prices vary.
Bootstrap order for today: Essential owners start with Rematch, Premium owners who skipped Ultimate finally get Black Ops 6, Ultimate members can burn the FC 27 trial, and anyone free this evening can sample Division 2 or PGA Tour before Sunday’s cutoff.
Sources: Xbox Wire (Wave 2; Free Play Days Sep 24–27), Xbox.com Rematch listing (checked Sep 25), Pure Xbox Sep 25 lineup, GameRant Essential 2026 tally, Activision BO6 editions page, EA FC 27 press/buy pages, Steam Rematch and FC 27 (prices checked Sep 25).