Xbox has started a new Free Play Days promotion with five games available to play for a limited time, including NBA 2K26, Ghost Recon Wildlands, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Wax Heads, and Sports Renovations.
Most of the games can be played without an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Only Sports Renovations requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or Essential.
The main Free Play Days lineup runs until August 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM PT. NBA 2K26 will remain available for longer, with its free access period continuing until August 14.
The promotion gives Xbox players a chance to try full versions of several games before deciding whether to buy them.
Xbox Free Play Days lineup for August 2026
The five games cover tactical shooters, basketball, simulation, and narrative experiences.
| Game | Platforms | Game Pass required | Free period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Renovations | Xbox Series X and Series S | Yes | Until August 9 |
| Ghost Recon Wildlands | Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S | No | Until August 9 |
| Ghost Recon Breakpoint | Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S | No | Until August 9 |
| NBA 2K26 | Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S | No | Until August 14 |
| Wax Heads | Xbox Series X and Series S, PC | No | Until August 9 |
The lack of a subscription requirement for four of the five games makes this Free Play Days event more accessible than some previous promotions.
Players only need access to the supported platform and the relevant store listing to download and play most of the lineup.
NBA 2K26 gets the longest free trial
NBA 2K26 is available for free until August 14, giving players several extra days compared with the rest of the promotion.
The free access includes the full game rather than a limited demo. That means you can try its career content, multiplayer modes, and other features during the promotion.
| NBA 2K26 detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S |
| Subscription required | No |
| Free access ends | August 14 |
| Content | Full game during the promotion |
The longer trial gives sports fans more time to decide whether the latest basketball game is worth purchasing.
Progress made during Free Play Days promotions usually carries over if you later buy the same version of the game, allowing you to continue instead of starting again.
Ghost Recon Wildlands and Breakpoint are both included
Two Ubisoft tactical shooters are part of this week’s promotion.
Ghost Recon Wildlands takes place in a large open world version of Bolivia and supports cooperative play with up to three other players. Its structure allows teams to approach missions through stealth, long range attacks, vehicles, or direct combat.
Ghost Recon Breakpoint uses a similar cooperative format but moves the action to the fictional Auroa archipelago.
| Ghost Recon game | Main focus |
|---|---|
| Wildlands | Open world tactical operations in Bolivia |
| Breakpoint | Tactical combat across the Auroa islands |
| Co-op support | Up to four players |
| Free Play Days subscription | Not required |
Both games are available on Xbox One and current Xbox Series consoles.
Their inclusion also arrives alongside Ghost Recon’s 25th anniversary celebrations, which have brought new content and updates to Wildlands.
Wax Heads offers a smaller narrative experience
Wax Heads provides a very different type of game compared with the shooters and sports titles.
It is a cozy narrative simulation centred on working in a struggling record store. Players interact with unusual customers and recommend music based on their personalities and requests.
The game is available through Free Play Days on Xbox Series X and Series S as well as PC.
Its smaller scale may make it easier to experience a meaningful portion of the game before the promotion ends on August 9.
Sports Renovations requires Game Pass
Sports Renovations is the only title in the lineup that requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription.
The game is a renovation simulator where players restore abandoned or damaged sports facilities, including gyms, pitches, and courts.
| Sports Renovations requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platform | Xbox Series X and Series S |
| Game Pass Ultimate | Supported |
| Game Pass Premium | Supported |
| Game Pass Essential | Supported |
| No subscription access | Not available |
Players without one of the eligible subscriptions cannot use the Free Play Days offer for this title.
The other four games remain available without a Game Pass membership during their respective free periods.
How to find Free Play Days games on Xbox
The games can be found directly through the Xbox Store.
On an Xbox console, open the Store and move to the Home section. From there, select the Subscriptions tab. The current Free Play Days titles should appear together in the promotional collection.
Once installed, the games can be played normally until their free access periods expire.
After the promotion ends, the installed files may remain on the console, but launching the games will require either buying them or gaining access through another subscription or service that includes them.
Discounts can make continuing cheaper
Free Play Days promotions are often accompanied by temporary discounts on participating games.
That gives players the option to try a title first and then purchase it at a reduced price if they want to continue.
The current lineup offers a broad range of experiences, with NBA 2K26 receiving the longest trial and the two Ghost Recon games providing substantial cooperative campaigns.
Most of the promotion ends on August 9 at 11:59 PM PT, while NBA 2K26 remains playable for free until August 14. For Xbox players who want something new to try without committing to a purchase, this week’s Free Play Days lineup offers several full games with minimal entry requirements.
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