Microsoft Is Killing Xbox Live Gold And Starting Xbox Game Pass Core

Xbox Game Pass Core is set to replace Xbox Live Gold in the Microsoft ecosystem. What is this new Game Pass tier?

Xbox game pass promo
Xbox Live Gold is ending. Here's everything you need to know about Xbox Game Pass Core. | © Microsoft

Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft’s requirement for playing online multiplayer, has been around since the Xbox 360 era, so it’s been a while. It now looks like the classic service will be shut down and replaced with something new called Xbox Game Pass Core, a new tier of Microsoft’s subscription service.

Xbox Game Pass Core Is Replacing Xbox Live Gold: Release Date, Price & Games

This was officially revealed by Microsoft on July 17. Core will be a fourth tier of Xbox Game Pass and will replace Xbox Live Gold, which shuts down on September 1. Core will officially launch on September 14.

It will cost just as much, $9.99/month and will be required to use online multiplayer on Xbox consoles. Users will also get discounts and other benefits which were included in Xbox Live Gold.

However, there is a sweet new goodie for Core subscribers. There will apparently be 25 games Core users can play for free. Here is a selection of games that will be available on 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 and the Will of the Wisps
  • Psychonauts 2
  • State of Decay 2
  • Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

More games will be announced closer to launch. Unfortunately, this seems to replace the Games with Gold program, which gave Xbox Live Gold subscribers new games every month.

Existing subscribers will keep their claimed Games with Gold titles and the library of available Game Pass games is set to grow over time.

Faris Delalic

Faris has been obsessed with gaming since his childhood and is now the Gaming lead at EarlyGame. He is a self-described FromSoftware shill, but also loves games like Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 and Resident Evil 4....