Microsoft is rolling out a new subscription service called Xbox Game Pass Core that will replace Xbox Live Gold. This new offering includes all the features and benefits of Xbox Live Gold, such as online console multiplayer support, deals and discounts, and access to a curated collection of over 25 games. Some of the notable titles included in the initial lineup are Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and Psychonauts 2.
Existing Xbox Live Gold members will be automatically transferred to Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14th, and the pricing for the new service will remain the same as Xbox Live Gold at $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year.
As part of this transition, Microsoft is discontinuing Games with Gold on September 1st. Games with Gold allowed Xbox owners to claim free games every month and add them to their library. While any Xbox 360 titles that were previously redeemed will be permanently kept, Xbox One titles will require an ongoing subscription to either Xbox Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate.
The selection of games included in Xbox Game Pass Core will serve as replacements for Games with Gold. Microsoft plans to add new titles to the catalog two to three times a year to keep the offerings fresh and exciting for subscribers.
Jerret West, CVP of gaming marketing at Xbox, explained the reasoning behind the included game catalog, stating, “We wanted to use this opportunity to reimagine how to include content with this subscription. We found that the answer to the most compelling catalog was to leverage select titles from our Xbox Game Pass catalog.”
However, the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Core might create some confusion around the online multiplayer aspect of Game Pass. While Core includes multiplayer support, the regular Xbox Game Pass, which is priced higher, does not. To access both Game Pass benefits and online multiplayer, users will still need to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft has yet to address the potential confusion caused by requiring Xbox Live Gold in addition to a regular Game Pass subscription, and the rebranding of the services might even exacerbate the confusion.
The shift from Xbox Live Gold to Xbox Game Pass Core has been anticipated for a while. In 2021, Microsoft rebranded Xbox Live as Xbox network but retained the Xbox Live Gold name for its basic subscription. Previously, Microsoft attempted to double the cost of a yearly Xbox Live Gold subscription, but after facing backlash from fans, the company quickly reversed the decision. Subsequently, Microsoft removed the paywall for free-to-play multiplayer games and made Xbox party chat and Looking for Group (LFG) available for free to all users, regardless of their Xbox Live Gold subscription status.
In addition to the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Core, Microsoft recently raised the prices of its overall Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now costs $16.99 per month, up from $14.99, while the base Xbox Game Pass for Console subscription increased from $9.99 to $10.99 per month. However, the PC Game Pass pricing remains unchanged.
Furthermore, Microsoft announced its plan to end the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan in August. Initially available in eight countries, this plan was labeled as a “preview program” and will cease to exist on August 15th. It is unclear whether it will return in the future.
Overall, the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Core provides Xbox Live Gold members with access to an expanded selection of games and benefits. While there might be some confusion about the different subscription tiers and requirements for online multiplayer, Microsoft aims to enhance the gaming experience for its users and continually refresh the Game Pass offerings.
