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Microsoft replaces Xbox Live Gold with Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14

by Josh Tolentino on 18 July, 2023

Xbox Live Gold will soon be dead. Long live Xbox Game Pass Core. Microsoft has announced that it will revamp its long-running game-focused subscription service, folding the venerable Xbox Live Gold system into a new service dubbed Xbox Game Pass Core. Starting on September 14, 2023, all existing Xbox Live Gold subscriptions will "evolve" into Xbox Game Pass Core subscriptions. Game Pass Console, PC, and Ultimate subscriptions will be unaffected.

Check out an introductory video to the service below:

The new service is broadly similar to the old one. Xbox Game Pass Core will carry almost the same set of features as Xbox Live Gold. This means it includes console multiplayer support, and special deals and discounts. It also has the same price of about $9.99 USD per month in North America (or $59.99 USD per year). One key difference is that Microsoft will discontinue its Games With Gold offers on September 1, 2023.

Games With Gold was a monthly offer that allowed Xbox Live Gold subscribers to add a handful of games to their library every month, free of additional charge. Though emulated now by Sony's PlayStation Plus service, Games With Gold was one of the first offers of its type, allowing subscribers to build up a library of games across the Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. After Games With Gold is discontinued, any redeemed Xbox 360 titles will be available permanently. Redeemed Xbox One titles will require an active Xbox Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate subscription to access.

In lieu of Games With Gold, Xbox Game Pass Core will instead grant subscribers access to a catalog of games from the larger Game Pass library to download and play at will, with new titles added several times a year. Upgrading to the Game Pass Ultimate subscription will grant players access to the full Game Pass library.

The list of confirmed Xbox Game Pass Core games is as follows, though Microsoft has promised that more will be added by the time the service launches:

  • 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 Live Gold will become Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14, 2023.