News + Trends

"Xbox Live Gold becomes Xbox Game Pass Core

18.7.2023

Translation: machine translated

Microsoft is saying goodbye to "Xbox Live Gold" and introducing the "Xbox Game Pass Core" plan instead. There are no more free monthly games in the new model. Instead, subscribers get access to a reduced Game Pass catalogue.

Microsoft announces a new subscription option for the Game Pass. The "Xbox Game Pass Core" starts on 14 September and replaces the previous "Xbox Live Gold" plan. Existing Gold subscribers will be automatically migrated to the new plan by 14 September - at no extra charge.

What changes?

The old Gold plan gave you access to online multiplayer on consoles. You could also download two to three new games for free every month. However, these were usually quite old or of questionable quality. Microsoft has been increasingly criticised for its uninspired Gold Games in the past.

With the "Xbox Game Pass Core" you also get access to online multiplayer on your Xbox. Instead of the monthly free games, you get access to a reduced Game Pass catalogue. At launch, this consists of 25 games. According to Microsoft, more games will be added two to three times a year. For comparison: The complete game catalogue in the more expensive Game Pass options currently consists of more than 300 titles.

The following games are to be added.

The following games are expected to be available at 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"

One Game Pass to rule them all

Nothing will change for the rest of the Game Pass plans. To see how the new Core model compares to the Console, PC and Ultimate versions, check out this overview:

With the realignment, Microsoft wants to unify the branding of its online plans and make it easier for new customers to enter the Xbox world. However, the fact that online multiplayer on consoles is included in the cheaper Core plan but is still missing in the more expensive Console plan is a little confusing.