Jul
Articles
Xbox Introduces Game Pass Core, Coming This September
Microsoft is introducing a new subscription called Xbox Game Pass Core to replace Xbox Live Gold. This upgraded offering will provide the usual features of Xbox online console multiplayer support, deals, and discounts, along with a curated selection of over 25 games, such as Dishonored 2, Ori & The Will of the Wisps, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel.
Existing Xbox Live Gold members will be automatically transitioned to Xbox Game Pass Core on September 14th, with no change in the pricing, which will remain at $9.99 per month (or $59.99 per year), the same as Xbox Live Gold.
With the introduction of Xbox Game Pass Core, Microsoft is discontinuing Games with Gold on September 1st. Games with Gold allowed Xbox owners to access free games each month for the past decade, which they could add to their library permanently. Now, any Xbox 360 titles that were redeemed in the past will still be accessible in the library, but for Xbox One titles, continued access will depend on maintaining an active subscription to Xbox Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate.
The more than 25 games included in Xbox Game Pass Core have been specially selected to replace Games with Gold. Microsoft also plans to introduce new titles to this collection two to three times a year.
The selection of games available in this new catalog will be considerably more limited than the comprehensive Xbox Game Pass subscription, which costs $10.99 per month. Currently, Microsoft has confirmed only 19 titles from the launch list:
- 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
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
However, Xbox Game Pass Core may lead to confusion regarding the online multiplayer features of the Game Pass in general. While Core does include multiplayer access, the regular Xbox Game Pass, which is priced higher, does not offer this benefit. To access both Game Pass benefits and online multiplayer, you still require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft has not addressed the potentially confusing aspect of needing Xbox Live Gold in addition to a regular Game Pass subscription, and the rebranding might even exacerbate the confusion.
Source: Xbox
Just a few weeks after raising the monthly prices for Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft has introduced Xbox Game Pass Core. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription has been increased from $14.99 to $16.99 (€14.99 / £12.99) per month. Additionally, the base Xbox Game Pass for Console now costs $10.99 (€10.99 / £8.99) per month, up from $9.99.
Notably, the pricing for PC Game Pass remains unchanged, which for Malaysia is still RM15 a month.
In addition to the price adjustments, Microsoft has also revealed its decision to discontinue the Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan in August. Despite being available in eight countries, the plan was always considered a “preview program” and will officially come to an end on August 15th. There is no indication if the plan will be reinstated at a later date.