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August is the swansong for Xbox Games with Gold, delivering one last whimper before transforming into Game Pass Core.
You knew this was coming (Pete)
Yes, it’s the end of an era. Xbox “Games with Gold” debuted in 2013, delivering a selection of monthly free games for subscribers of Xbox Live Gold. Though it started with the 360, Xbox One eventually got on the bandwagon as well with the same gimmick, though that was the extent of it. The program continued past that generation, but never offered dedicated Series X games. For that matter, quality took a nose-dive as well, with mainly Indies and lesser known releases being hosted.
Not that there wasn’t a reason for that of course; it’s called Game Pass. With the debut of Microsoft’s subscription, ‘all you can play’ service, Games with Gold was more or less relegated to obsolescence. True, you can’t ‘keep’ the games that are on Game Pass, but they do tend to stick around for a while. If you really want to play something all the way through and get your fill, you almost assuredly can.
So with that in mind, what’s a company to do with something like Games with Gold? If you said ‘trash it’, you’re on the right track. This will be the final month for it, and it’s going out with… some interesting titles honestly.
Evil forces have taken over the world of Penumbra. They need a warrior of light and darkness! Embark on a journey to explore temples filled with 3D platforming challenges, battle wild enemies, and go on side quests. Master the art of movement as you face increasingly challenging Void Puzzles and unlock the secrets that will save the day.
Xbox Live listing
Can you master the perfect drift? Drive through a 90s retro future in this arcade racing game that leverages a unique handling model and twin-stick drift mechanices. Choose from 16 unique cars across 20 wild tracks to tear through the neon streets. Rev up your skills in single-player story move and then prove you’re the best in multiplayer.
Xbox Live listing
Ch-ch-ch-changes
- Blue Fire ($19.99 ERP): Available August 1 to 31
- Inertial Drift ($19.99 ERP): Available August 1 to August 31
Unlike with previous months, the games this period aren’t staggered at all, and are ready to add to your digital library right now through the 31st. Again though, once the month is up, that’s it for the freebies. Sort of. Kinda.
Microsoft has revealed that the Xbox Live Gold subscription service will actually be folded into Game Pass. This will result in a new tier of service called Xbox Game Pass Core, which sounds like a decent enough deal.
Under the heading, subscribers will get access to the same online multiplayer service and member sales/deals that they’re used to, plus “a new library of over 25 high-quality games from the Game Pass catalog to play on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One”. Presumably those will be rotating, like with the standard Game Pass subscription.
Also worth noting, is that any and all Games with Gold titles that you have now will still be linked to your account, as long as you keep your subscription going. So if you grab a copy of Inertial Drift this month, you won’t lose access to it as long as you pay for Game Pass Core.
Source: Xbox News Wire
