After nearly twenty years, Xbox Live Gold is ending with Microsoft setting the date of September 14th to shut down the service. In addition, games with gold also expire on September 1st.
It will be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core, which is a cheaper and more basic version of Microsoft’s Game Pass service. This essentially turns Game Pass into a three-tiered subscription service – Core, Regular (PC or Console), and Ultimate – not unlike Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription service.
Xbox Game Pass Core offers online multiplayer and a selection of 25 games to play. The service will cost $10 per month or $60 per year.
Players will be able to access their downloaded games via the Games with Gold program – but in order to keep any Xbox One titles you’ll need to remain a Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate subscriber (360 games excluded).
Existing Xbox Live Gold subscribers will automatically convert to Game Pass Core on September 14th. The list of launch titles are: 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, Fall of Man, Flat, Within, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Psychonauts 2, State of Decay 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited.
Microsoft says it will add new games to Game Pass Core two to three times each year.
source: Xbox news
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