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

Microsoft has revealed Xbox Game Pass Core, a new subset of Xbox Game Pass that will replace the long-running Xbox Live Gold program this September. 

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. This new subscription tier of Xbox Game Pass will cost $9.99 per month, or $59.99 a year, and serves as an evolution of Xbox Live Gold, according to the company.

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“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. 

Games with Gold, the feature of Xbox Live Gold that gives players free games to download each month, ends on September 1.

“With this evolution, we’re saying farewell to Games with Gold. We wanted to use this opportunity to re-imagine 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.”

On the September 14 launch, the following games will be available to Xbox Game Pass Core subscribers, although this list does not include every game planned for 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

Xbox says it will add new titles to the Core catalog two to three times a 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. Regardless of subscription status, you will retain your Xbox 360 games obtained through Games with Gold. 

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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