The End Of An Era Xbox Games With Gold Program Concludes After Decade Of Free Game Offerings

The Xbox Games with Gold program, which has provided free games to Xbox Live Gold subscribers for over a decade, is coming to an end in September 2023. Microsoft has announced that this long-running promotional program will be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core, marking a significant shift in how the company approaches free game offerings to its subscriber base. The final games available through Games with Gold will be Blue Fire and Inertial Drift, available throughout August 2023 for existing subscribers to claim before the program's conclusion.

History of the Games with Gold Program

First announced during E3 2013, the Games with Gold program began as a way to provide free Xbox 360 games to users with an Xbox Live Gold subscription. The program was extended to the Xbox One console a year later, expanding its reach across Microsoft's console generations. Throughout its ten-year lifespan, the program delivered numerous free games to subscribers, becoming one of the most recognizable elements of Xbox's subscription offerings.

The program operated on a consistent model of releasing two titles each month, though there were some notable exceptions. For instance, June 2014 saw a third game released to celebrate the first anniversary of the program, while April 2015 featured four games (two in each half of the month), and December 2015 included an additional third game alongside the regular offerings.

Starting in October 2022, Microsoft made a significant change to the program by discontinuing Xbox 360 game offerings. According to information provided in the source materials, Microsoft had "reached the limit" of Xbox 360 titles it could add to the catalog. The final Xbox 360 game offered through Games with Gold was Portal 2, which was available for download from September 16 through September 2022. This marked the end of an era for backward compatibility game offerings through the program.

Final Games with Gold Offerings

As the Games with Gold program approaches its conclusion, Microsoft has revealed the final two games that will be available through this promotional offering. For August 2023, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can claim Blue Fire and Inertial Drift, with both titles available from August 1 through August 31. Unlike previous months where games were typically staggered with different availability periods, these final titles share the same availability window.

Blue Fire, priced at $19.99 ERP, is described as a 3D platformer that combines elements from Zelda and Dark Souls. Originally released in 2021, the game received mixed reviews from critics but may still appeal to fans of those particular genres. Inertial Drift, also priced at $19.99 ERP, is an arcade racing game that launched in 2020 and earned mostly positive reviews from critics. While these final offerings may not be considered the most exciting games in the program's history, they still provide value for subscribers who haven't had the opportunity to play them.

The availability of these final Games with Gold games extends beyond just those with active Xbox Live Gold memberships. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can also claim these titles, as Xbox Live Gold is included in the Game Pass Ultimate package. This broader accessibility ensures that Microsoft's most committed gaming audience can still benefit from the final offerings of this soon-to-be-discontinued program.

Transition to Xbox Game Pass Core

The discontinuation of Xbox Live Gold and the Games with Gold program is scheduled for September 2023, with the official transition occurring on September 14. On this date, Xbox Live Gold will cease to exist entirely and will be replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core, a new tier of Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service.

This transition represents a significant evolution in Microsoft's approach to console subscriptions. Xbox Game Pass Core will offer subscribers multiplayer access (a feature that previously required Xbox Live Gold) along with a library of approximately 25 games. The confirmed titles in this initial library include Among Us, Doom Eternal, Gears 5, and Psychonauts 2. This curated collection represents a departure from the Games with Gold model, which provided two free games each month rather than access to a rotating library.

Current Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be automatically transitioned to Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14. Microsoft has indicated that this new subscription tier will maintain the multiplayer functionality that Xbox Live Gold provided while introducing a different model for game access. The company appears to be shifting its focus from offering individual free games each month to providing a more substantial library through the Game Pass ecosystem.

For those who have claimed games through Games with Gold over the years, Microsoft has confirmed that these titles will remain accessible as long as subscribers maintain an active Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate subscription. This ensures that users who have built a collection of free games through the program can continue to enjoy them even after the program's conclusion.

Notable Games Offered Through the Years

Throughout its decade-long run, the Games with Gold program offered numerous notable titles that have become fan favorites. While the program delivered hundreds of games across Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S platforms, certain titles have stood out in the gaming community's memory.

According to Polygon's retrospective ranking of the greatest Games with Gold offerings, the five most significant games provided through the program were:

• Dark Souls (June 2014)
• Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (February 2017)
• Sniper Elite V2 (February 2015)
• Tropico 4 (May 2021)
• Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (July 2017)

These titles, spanning various genres and eras, represent the diverse range of experiences that Microsoft was able to secure for its subscribers through the Games with Gold program. The inclusion of critically acclaimed titles like Dark Souls demonstrated Microsoft's ability to secure high-profile games for the program, especially during its early years.

Portal 2 holds a special place in the program's history as the final Xbox 360 game offered through Games with Gold. Released in 2011, this sequel to Valve's 2007 breakout title was previously added to the Games with Gold catalog in 2019. Its availability in September 2022 marked the end of an era for backward compatibility game offerings through the program, as Microsoft had "reached the limit" of Xbox 360 titles it could add to the catalog.

Impact on Xbox Gaming Community

The discontinuation of Games with Gold has generated significant discussion within the Xbox gaming community. The program, which has been a staple of Xbox's value proposition for a decade, represented an important benefit for Xbox Live Gold subscribers and a key differentiator from competing platforms.

Notably, the Xbox Games with Gold program differed from Sony's PlayStation Plus offering in several ways. While both programs provided free games to subscribers, Games with Gold typically offered two games per month (one for Xbox 360 and one for Xbox One in later years), whereas PlayStation Plus traditionally offered three games monthly. However, Microsoft's decision to transition to Xbox Game Pass Core represents a strategic shift toward providing a more substantial library of games rather than a rotating selection of individual titles.

The program's conclusion also coincides with Microsoft's reported plans to make multiplayer gaming free on Xbox. According to VentureBeat journalist Jeff Grubb, Xbox Live Gold "is going away and playing online multiplayer will be free." This would represent a significant departure from the current model, where multiplayer gaming requires an active Xbox Live Gold subscription. If implemented, this change would align Xbox with PlayStation and Nintendo, which do not require paid subscriptions for online multiplayer play, except for specific premium features.

The transition to Xbox Game Pass Core also reflects Microsoft's broader strategic focus on Game Pass as its primary subscription offering. By consolidating services and shifting resources toward Game Pass, Microsoft appears to be betting on the value proposition of a substantial, rotating game library rather than the model of providing two free games each month.

Conclusion

The Xbox Games with Gold program's conclusion in September 2023 marks the end of an era in console gaming promotions that has lasted for over a decade. What began as a way to provide value to Xbox Live Gold subscribers evolved into one of gaming's most recognizable and long-running free game offerings. The final games available through the program—Blue Fire and Inertial Drift—represent the culmination of this initiative before it gives way to Xbox Game Pass Core.

For Xbox gamers, the transition from Games with Gold to Xbox Game Pass Core represents both an ending and a beginning. While the program that provided free monthly games is concluding, the new subscription tier offers a different value proposition through a library of approximately 25 games and continued multiplayer access. This shift reflects Microsoft's evolving strategy for console subscriptions and its focus on Game Pass as the centerpiece of its gaming ecosystem.

As Xbox Game Pass Core launches on September 14, 2023, it will carry forward the legacy of Games with Gold by continuing to provide value to Xbox subscribers, albeit through a different model. The decade-long journey of Games with Gold—from its inception in 2013 to its final offerings in 2023—has left a significant impact on the console gaming landscape and will be remembered as an innovative approach to adding value for gaming subscribers.

Sources

1. GameRant: Xbox Free Games with Gold Games August 2023 List
2. Xbox Fandom: List of Games with Gold
3. Polygon: Xbox Games with Gold makes Portal 2 its final free Xbox 360 game
4. The Verge: Xbox Games Gold final Blue Fire Inertial Drift
5. Game Developer: Xbox Games with Gold makes Portal 2 its final free Xbox 360 game
6. Videogames Chronicle: Microsoft will discontinue Xbox Live Gold and make multiplayer free its claimed