Microsoft has announced the debut of a brand new subscription service called Xbox Game Pass Core, which will replace the current Xbox Live Gold service in September. A handpicked selection of over 25 subscription games, including popular titles such as Gears of War 5, Forza Horizon 4, and Schizophrenia 2, will be available through this new program, along with support for Xbox Online Multiplayer, incredible savings, and access to these games.
Existing Xbox Live Gold subscribers will transition to Xbox Game Pass Core immediately on September 14 for the same price of $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year, making the switch painless. However, the long-running Gold Free Games program, which has given users free games every month for the past ten months, will end on September 1 with the launch of the new subscription service. Xbox 360 games already redeemed by gamers will remain in their libraries indefinitely, but Xbox One titles will require an ongoing Xbox Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate membership.
Taking over the role of the previous “Free Games for Gold Members” perk, Game Pass Core offers more than 25 games. Microsoft is looking to provide users with an ever-changing selection by adding new games to the library two to three times a year. Microsoft has announced the availability of 19 games for the service at launch, including popular games such as Among Us, Dishonored 2, Fallout 4, Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5 and more.
It’s important to note that while Xbox Game Pass Core has online multiplayer functionality, the basic Xbox Game Pass, which costs $10.99 more per month, does not.
Microsoft has changed the branding and cost of its gaming subscription services over the years. While the term Xbox Live Gold was retained, Xbox Live was rebranded as Xbox Network in 2021. Microsoft hastily reversed a plan to raise the cost of an Xbox Live Gold subscription after receiving complaints from users. It also promised to remove the barrier to free-to-play multiplayer games.
Microsoft has changed the monthly cost of Xbox Game Pass across the board, increasing it from $9.99 to $10.99 for Xbox Game Pass for Console and from $14.99 to $16.99 for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The cost of PC Game Pass hasn’t changed.
Microsoft has also announced that the Xbox Game Pass Family and Friends service will be discontinued in August.
With these changes, Microsoft hopes to offer a wide variety of gaming experiences, while also making changes in response to customer input and changing market trends.
