Microsoft Unveils Xbox Game Pass Core, Replacing Xbox Live Gold This September

Microsoft announced Xbox Game Pass Core. This new version of Xbox Game Pass will replace Xbox Live Gold, which has been in place for many years. 

Xbox Live changed the industry more than two decades ago with its multiplayer network features, but the program’s premier Xbox Live Gold has waned in popularity for the past few years, likely due to a lack of compelling free games to download. Now, Xbox is ending Xbox Live Gold on September 14 and replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core. Xbox Game Pass Core will be available for $9.99 per monthly subscription, which is $59.99 annually. According to Microsoft, this new subscription level represents an evolution from Xbox Live Gold.

“Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member [deals],” an Xbox blog reads. 

The Xbox Live Gold feature Games with Gold which gives Xbox Live Gold users free downloads of games each month ends September 1.

“With this evolution, we’re saying farewell to Games with Gold. The opportunity presented itself to us as we reimagined how content would be included with the subscription. We found that the answer to the most compelling catalog was to leverage select titles from our Xbox Game Pass catalog.”

Launched on September 14, Xbox Game Pass Core members will have access to the following titlesAlthough this list doesn’t include all games planned for release: 

• The Among Us
• Descenders
• Dishonored 2.
• Doom Eternal
• Fables Anniversary
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 6
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears 5
• The Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars 2,
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Human Fall Flat
• You can find out more about it here
• Ori & The Will of the Wisps
• Psychonauts 2
• State of Decay 2.
• The Elder Scrolls Online – Tamriel Unlimited

Xbox has announced that it will update the Core Catalogue between two and three times per year. 

If you’re an Xbox Live Gold member today, on September 14, you will automatically transition into an Xbox Game Pass Core member, with no change in pricing; you’ll receive immediate access to the new Core catalog as well. 

Any Xbox One game you redeemed through Games with Gold will remain in your library if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate subscriber. You will keep your Xbox 360 Games with Gold, regardless of whether you have a subscription. 

For more, read about how Xbox’s Game Pass subscriber base continues to grow, even when Xbox gaming revenue is down.

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