Microsoft Ends Xbox Live Gold after 20 Years, Introduces Game Pass Core
Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft‘s online gaming service that has been in operation for over two decades, is set to come to an end, as announced in a recent blog post on Xbox Wire.
The discontinuation of the service will take effect from September 14, with a new offering called Game Pass Core taking its place.
Described by Microsoft as an “evolution” of Xbox Live Gold, Game Pass Core will provide subscribers with access to online console multiplayer and a library of over 25 games to enjoy on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
The monthly subscription fee for Game Pass Core is $9.99, or subscribers can opt for an annual payment of $59.99.
Xbox Live Gold was initially launched on the original Xbox console on November 15, 2002, gaining popularity through the online multiplayer feature of the highly acclaimed game, Halo 2.
Since then, the platform has been utilized by subsequent Xbox consoles including the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and the current-generation Xbox Series X|S.
Introduced in July 2013 for the Xbox 360, Games with Gold became a requirement for accessing online multiplayer.
Subscribers to this service were rewarded with a selection of games each month. While it was once highly regarded, Games with Gold has faced criticism in recent years due to the inclusion of lesser-known free-to-play titles.
Here’s how the transition will occur: Starting from September 14, existing Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members. Consequently, Games with Gold will cease to exist from September 1. Below is the list of Core games available at launch:
- Among Us
- Descenders
- Dishonored 2
- Doom Eternal
- Fable Anniversary
- Fallout 4
- Fallout 76
- Forza Horizon 4
- Gears 5
- Grounded
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Human Fall Flat
- Inside
- Ori & The Will of the Wisps
- Psychonauts 2
- State of Decay 2
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
Microsoft has also announced that more Core games will be added before September 14, with additional games introduced two or three times a year.
To clarify, Microsoft has stated that players will retain access to all Xbox One games they have claimed through Games with Gold as long as they remain members of either Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core.
Furthermore, any Xbox 360 titles obtained through Games with Gold will become a permanent part of their game library, regardless of subscription status.
Jerret West, CVP of Gaming Marketing, bid farewell to Games with Gold in a post on Xbox Wire, stating, “With this evolution, we say goodbye to Games with Gold. We wanted to take this opportunity to rethink how we include content in this subscription. We found that the answer was to use selected titles from our Xbox Game Pass catalog. Thank you to everyone who has been with us since the early days, joined together with friends, and is now on Xbox Game Pass with us. I’m proud and humbled by the stories we hear of online teammates who become true friends after years of playing, or even marriages whose first spark is ignited in a pre-match lobby. We can’t wait to hear more from the community when Core launches on September 14. See you online!”
With the introduction of Game Pass Core, the Xbox Game Pass lineup now offers four different subscription plans: Core ($9.99 per month), Console ($10.99 per month), PC (€9.99 per month), and Ultimate ($14.99 per month). The following chart provides a summary of the available options:
Earlier this month, Xbox Game Pass experienced its first price increase since its initial launch six years ago.
The price of Xbox Game Pass has risen by one dollar, from €9.99 to €10.99 per month (with Core taking over the €9.99 price point). Meanwhile, the price of Ultimate has increased by two euros to €14.99 per month, while PC Game Pass remains at €9.99 per month.
Microsoft Ends Xbox Live Gold
