Saturday, September 26, 2026 is a deadline day more than a launch day. Nintendo’s U.S. Customer Appreciation Sale closes tonight, Free Play Days still run through Sunday, Minecraft Dungeons II arrives day one on Game Pass Monday, and eight library titles leave the Pass on Wednesday. Here is what is still worth acting on before the weekend is over.
| When | What | Who should care |
|---|---|---|
| Tonight, 8:59 PM PT | Nintendo Customer Appreciation Sale ends (U.S.) | Switch / Switch 2 shoppers |
| Through Sunday, Sep 27 | Xbox Free Play Days | Any Xbox member (two titles need Game Pass) |
| Monday, Sep 29 | Minecraft Dungeons II on Game Pass | Ultimate and PC Game Pass |
| Wednesday, Sep 30 | Eight games leave Game Pass | Subscribers finishing mid-run titles |
Nintendo’s Customer Appreciation Sale closes at 8:59 PM PT
GameRant, citing Nintendo of America’s sale page, puts the U.S. Customer Appreciation Sale from September 12 at 9:00 PM PT through September 26 at 8:59 PM PT. Nintendo Everything carried Nintendo’s own language: one of its largest promotions ever, with up to 30 percent off dozens of Switch digital games and bundles, plus select physical games, DLC, accessories, amiibo, and apparel across Nintendo eShop, Nintendo Store, and participating retailers. The company tied the promo in part to tariff-related refunds and limited it to the American market.
A morning check of 9to5Toys’ Sep 26 deal sheet still shows Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 at $49 (from $70), Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at $35 (from $60), Tears of the Kingdom at $49 (from $70), and the Switch Pro Controller at $56 (from $80). GamesReviews notes Nintendo Everything’s tracker has listed close to 100 discounted eShop titles as the catalog grew. Digitals revert after tonight’s cutoff, so treat 8:59 PM PT as a hard stop. Any separate Ocarina of Time remake pre-order discount is not this promo.
Minecraft Dungeons II hits Game Pass on Monday
Xbox Wire’s September Wave 2 calendar and Minecraft’s date announcement agree: Minecraft Dungeons II unlocks September 29 day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass across cloud, console, handheld, and PC. Essential and Premium are not on that Wave 2 line. Steam’s U.S. storefront lists buy-to-own Standard at $29.99 this morning. Pre-order bonuses — two hero skins, the Twisted cape, and the Twisted chicken pet — expire September 28 at 12:00 PM PDT per Minecraft.net and Xbox.com, tomorrow afternoon if you still want those extras.
One calendar note: Xbox Wire’s separate “Next Week on Xbox” roundup lists a September 28 store date beside the Game Pass callout. Wave 2, Minecraft.net, and the Xbox.com product page all hold September 29 for the day-one Pass arrival, so that is the date we are using here.
Eight games leave Game Pass on Wednesday
Xbox Wire’s Wave 2 leaving list, matched by Complete Xbox’s rundown, removes eight titles from Cloud, Console, and PC on September 30: Atomfall, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, Little Nightmares II Enhanced Edition, Little Rocket Lab, Sifu, SOPA: Tale of the Stolen Potato, Sworn, and Terminull Brigade. That leaves the rest of today through Tuesday if you are mid-run on Sifu or still clearing Little Nightmares II. Keep-it discounts apply before removal, with percentages varying by title and region.
Free Play Days still cover the weekend. 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, while The Escapists 2 and Young Suns stay on Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. PGA’s featured quest, The Captain’s Call, asks for five fairways in regulation, five birdies in one round, and three putts from 10-plus feet before the window closes. On console, the install path remains Store → Subscriptions → Free Play Days.
Sources: Nintendo of America Customer Appreciation Sale (via GameRant Sep 10; Nintendo Everything Sep 10), 9to5Toys Sep 26 deal sheet, GamesReviews Sep 26, Xbox Wire Wave 2 (Sep 15) and Free Play Days (Sep 24), Minecraft.net Dungeons II date announce, Xbox.com Minecraft Dungeons II page, Steam MD2 pricing checked Sep 26, Complete Xbox leaving list Sep 15.