Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 has been removed from the July 2026 Xbox Game Pass lineup because Microsoft is still working through required licensing approvals.
The game was originally scheduled to join the service on July 21, but it later disappeared from the official list of upcoming additions. Xbox initially added a short editor’s note confirming the removal without explaining the reason.
Microsoft has since clarified that the issue involves approvals from licensors. The company says it is continuing to resolve the matter and will provide another update when more information is available.
The removal does not appear to be a permanent cancellation. However, Xbox has not confirmed a new release date, so subscribers should not expect the game to arrive on July 21 as originally planned.
| Detail | Current status |
|---|---|
| Original Game Pass date | July 21, 2026 |
| July release | Removed |
| Reason | Licensing approvals |
| New date | Not announced |
| Permanent cancellation | Not confirmed |
| Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 | Still available on Game Pass |
Licensing issues can affect games with large soundtracks
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 includes a large soundtrack featuring music from several artists and record labels.
Music is a central part of the series, but every song requires separate licensing agreements that may include limits on platforms, regions, subscriptions and distribution methods.
A game being available for purchase does not automatically mean it can be added to a subscription service. Microsoft and Activision may need fresh approval before offering the title through Game Pass, even if existing digital and physical versions remain on sale.
The available statement does not confirm that music is the specific problem. Other licensed elements may also be involved, including professional skaters, clothing brands, equipment manufacturers or promotional material.
Microsoft has only said that necessary licensor approvals are still being processed.
The game was announced before every approval was complete
The situation raises questions about why Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was included in the July announcement before the licensing process had been finalised.
Subscription schedules are usually prepared in advance, but an unresolved agreement can change close to the planned launch. Microsoft may have expected the remaining approvals to arrive before July 21 and later removed the game when that became uncertain.
The company’s first public change was limited to an editor’s note stating that the game had been removed from the upcoming list. This created confusion because no initial explanation or replacement date was provided.
The later statement gives players a clearer reason but still leaves the timetable open.
A delayed Game Pass release could happen quickly if the approvals are completed, or it may take much longer if several rights holders are involved.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remains available
Subscribers can still play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 through Xbox Game Pass.
That newer collection offers another way to access the series while the licensing issue affecting the earlier remake is resolved. The two games contain different levels, challenges and soundtracks, so one does not fully replace the other.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 recreates the first two games with updated visuals, modern controls and combined progression. It also includes redesigned levels and additional skaters while preserving the fast arcade structure of the originals.
For many players, it remains the stronger introduction to the series because it includes several of its best known stages and challenges.
Its absence will be disappointing for anyone who planned to play both collections through Game Pass during July.
Activision ownership does not remove third party restrictions
Microsoft owns Activision, but that does not give it full control over every licensed element contained in an Activision game.
Third party agreements remain separate from ownership of the publisher. Music, celebrity likenesses, brands and other protected content may still require permission from outside companies or individuals.
This is one reason older Activision games have joined Game Pass at different times rather than arriving together immediately after the acquisition.
Some titles may have straightforward rights arrangements, while others contain complex contracts negotiated years before Microsoft bought the company.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is especially dependent on outside licences because its identity is closely connected to professional skaters, music and real world brands.
A new Game Pass date could be announced later
Microsoft’s wording suggests that work on the Game Pass release is continuing.
The company has not said that the plan has been abandoned, and the request for patience indicates that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 may still join the service after the approvals are secured.
Until a revised date is announced, players should treat the release as delayed indefinitely rather than cancelled.
The rest of the July Game Pass schedule continues, with titles including Planet Crafter, Fogpiercer and Halo: Campaign Evolved among the other planned additions.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 could return to the schedule in a later month, but Microsoft will need to complete the licensing process before making another firm announcement.
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