Xbox Live Gold replacement and pricing changes were officially unveiled, including 25 free games as an incentive.
Xbox Live Gold, after more than 20 years of service, is officially no more. Microsoft officially confirmed this news after morning of speculations and reports of death rumor mill.
Subscription holders to Xbox Live Gold likely understand its limitations: while its competitors such as PlayStation Plus or Game Pass offer superior services with more game choices at reduced monthly subscription costs. Live Gold provides “trashy” new free titles which do not justify its premium cost.
Microsoft had long given warning of their plans. Last month, when they unceremoniously raised Xbox Game Pass prices amidst speculation over Starfield’s launch date, many began to suspect something amiss. And today morning, leaks indicated Xbox Live Gold will indeed be discontinued later this year.
Live Gold will be transitioned over to Xbox Game Pass Core from September 14. An official post over on Xbox Wire outlines this change.
“For over twenty years, Xbox players have connected via Xbox Live to experience and compete in some of the world’s premier multiplayer online games,” reads an Xbox post. In 2017, we introduced Xbox Game Pass with its extensive library of titles; then later in 2018, Game Pass Core combined online play and Game Pass in one comprehensive offering for gamers around the globe.”
Xbox Game Pass Core offers access to online multiplayer gaming, over 25 titles from their collection and exclusive discounts for just $9.99 a month or $59.99 annually – this price point matches exactly with Xbox Live Gold so there will be no increase in costs over time!
Xbox revealed 19 out of the 25 free games in their collection today, while promising us that more details would become clear before September 14. New titles are scheduled to arrive two or three times annually; for now you can see below which have already been confirmed as part of this free series of titles.
