Xbox Live Gold has been limping along for a while now, each months offering of new games becoming less and less noteworthy. Really, the only reason to stay subscribed was to access multiplayer gaming. It looks like the reason Gold has been less than impressive recently is because Microsoft was planning to take it out behind the shed, pull out a shotgun and blow its head off. Today, Microsoft has announced that Xbox Live Gold will officially cease to exist on the 1st of September.
It will be replaced on September 14th by a new service called Xbox Game Pass Core which Microsoft describes as “the evolution of Xbox Live Gold.”
For the same price as Xbox Live Gold (£7 / $10 a month) you’ll get access to multiplayer gaming, plus a selection of 25+ from Microsoft and Bethesda. According to Microsoft, this selection will continue to grow over time, with new titles being added a few times a year. In theory, this could also mean games could be taken away, too.
The key detail is that Core does not provide access to the rest of the Game Pass library, nor does it let you play new releases like Starfield.
The full line-up of games that will be available on September 14th is as follows:
- 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
It’s a reasonable selection for new gamers. Doom Eternal is a bombastic, brilliant shooter, Dishonored 2 is a masterpiece and Gears 5 is terrific. Experienced gamers probably won’t find much they’ve not already played, though.
As for any games you’ve previous gotten from Xbox Live Gold Microsoft states that all Xbox One titles claimed will be accessible so long as you have an active membership. Xbox 360 titles will stay in your library regardless of subscription, letting you play them whenever.
All of this means Microsoft now offer four different tiers of subscription: Core, Console, PC and UItimate. If you are an existing Gold member you’ll be transferred straight over to the new service when it goes live.
WGB 