Xbox Free Play Days deliver sports sims, Ark and open trials

Table of Content

Xbox has outlined the next Free Play Days window, mixing sports sims, survival and time-loop mystery. For members of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential, five titles rotate in from Thursday, December 18 to Sunday, December 21. Two additional trials are open to all Xbox members: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 from December 16-22 and Fallout 76 through December 23. Several games are Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, and some support Xbox Play Anywhere.

What’s included this weekend

The membership lineup spans basketball, wrestling, golf, dinosaur survival and a narrative adventure that rewinds history. The Forgotten City is flagged for Console and PC access during the window, while others are listed for Xbox consoles. Below is a closer look at what each game offers.

Sports slate: NBA 2K26, WWE 2K25, PGA Tour 2K25

• NBA 2K26 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Core modes return with quick matches in Play Now, an expanded MyCareer story on New Gen consoles, team-building in MyTeam, and progression across The City.
• WWE 2K25 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. The latest entry in the wrestling series joins the event for the weekend window. The official note highlights Series X|S optimization; other content specifics were not detailed in the announcement.
• PGA Tour 2K25 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S. Career play includes iconic Majors, with character options via MyPlayer and a range of multiplayer modes for competitive rounds.

Ark: Survival Ascended – rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5

Ark: Survival Ascended reimagines the original dinosaur survival game in Unreal Engine 5. Players awaken on a mysterious island and push inland from the shore into dense jungle, crafting, taming prehistoric creatures and surviving the elements. It is Optimized for Xbox Series X|S and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

The Forgotten City – time-twisting mystery below an ancient ruin

The Forgotten City drops players into the ruins of an underground settlement and then sends them 2,000 years into the past to investigate its collapse. The loop lets you rewind time to test choices, uncover motives and piece together the city’s fate. It is Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, supports Xbox Play Anywhere, and is listed for Console and PC during the event.

Open-access trials for all Xbox members

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 trial (Multiplayer and Zombies)

• Dates: December 16-22
• Included: a selection of Multiplayer modes and maps, featuring a remaster of Nuketown 2025 with updated visuals and flow.
• Zombies: access to the thriller experience “Ashes of the Damned”.
• Seasonal extras: the “Sleighjacked” Multiplayer map and Holiday Havoc moshpit variant are available during the period.
• Technical: Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery.

Fallout 76 free period

Dates: December 16-23. Fallout 76 highlights a new Burning Springs desert biome in post-nuclear Ohio, overseen by the intelligent Super Mutant Rust King, with Deathclaws and raiders in the region. Play solo or join others to explore, quest and engage with the Wasteland during the trial window.

Schedule at a glance

The table below consolidates the announced dates, access levels and platform notes for quick reference.

Read also our article: Two free Hyrule Warriors updates bring Phantom Ganon, new modes and gear

Final takeaway – a flexible mix of weekend sessions

This Free Play Days round balances sports staples, a rebuilt survival sandbox and narrative experimentation, with two broader trials layered on top. If you want a compact window to sample varied genres, the date ranges above mark your options.