Why was shenmue removed from game pass?

There is actually about a 2 weeks notice before a game is either added or removed from the service. It is typically announced on social media at the begging and middle of each month roughly, on platforms like Facebook and Twitter normally.

Here's a few examples of where it was posted by third party media sites:

https://www.joyfreak.com/articles/xbox-game-pass-march-2020-added-and-removed-games.355/

https://www.cbr.com/xbox-game-pass-arriving-and-leaving-march-2020/

If you're unsatisfied with the service, all refunds and returns for digital purchases and subscriptions are handled through this link: https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/...scriptions/digital-goods-subscriptions-refund

Like always, certain restrictions will apply, so be sure to read the terms on the page before filling it out the form.

Games get added & removed all the time.

It's unfortunately how streaming services work Netflix & the like are the same, it's designed in such a way to make you want to subscribe & play the games before they're gone.

I apologise for any inconvenience this has caused & I hope it has not lowered your enjoyment of game pass.

Games getting removed are alerted beforehand by two weeks in multiple places. You can check social media, the Xbox blog, or the Xbox app to see what is being removed.

I remember that Shenmue was under the living Gamepass section in the App. They are nice enough to give us the leaving soon section. I use a lot of other subscription services where the companies do not tell you what is leaving.

The 'why' probably amounts to 'that's as long as they had the deal for'. That's how subscription services like this work. It's nothing personal.