Microsoft is binning Xbox Live Gold and replacing it with Game Pass Core
Goodbye old friend
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
After over 20 years, Xbox Live Gold is being replaced with a newer and shinerXbox Game PassCore.
The newest subscription service will provide access to a select collection of over 25 titles to play on theXbox Series X|S andXbox One. For$9.99/ £6.99/ AUD$14.99per month or$59.99/ £49.99/ AUD$88.05per year, players will have access to titles such asHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice,Grounded,andElder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited. After this, new games will be added to the subscription service two to three times a year.
Before Game Pass Core goes live on September 14, 2023, Games with Gold will come to an end on September 1, automatically transferring existing accounts over to the new service. However, players will still be able to access any Xbox One games that were previously redeemed through Games with Gold. Similarly, regardless of subscription status, any Xbox 360 titles redeemed via the old service will be kept in a player’s library.
The aim of Game Pass Core is to not only bring Games with Gold up to date but to also “to give players more choice and value”, according to a press release.
This update follows the news that Xbox’s Friends and Family plan will be closing its doors on August 15.Microsoftbegan public testing for the newXbox Game Passplan almost a year ago before releasing a preview to select regions.
The news came from aTwitter postby Spitfire_Spud, who was notified of their subscription coming to an end. The notification explains that Xbox will be “ending the preview as [it] looks to take the learnings from the past several months and investigate building an offer [it] can launch worldwide in the future.”
There seems to be a lot of change in Xbox’s world right now, so to help you navigate the rough waters, we’ve collated all thebest Xbox deals in Julyand thebest Xbox Series X gamesfor you to browse with ease.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Elie is a Features Writer for TechRadar Gaming, here to write about anything new or slightly weird. Before writing for TRG, Elie studied for a Masters at Cardiff University JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries – spending their free time filming short docs or editing the gaming section for their student publications.
Elie’s first step into gaming was through Pokémon but they’ve taken the natural next step in the horror genre. Any and every game that would keep you up at night is on their list to play - despite the fact that one of Elie’s biggest fears is being chased.
Black Friday Xbox deals 2024: early offerings are beginning to appear at retailers
Where to buy the new Xbox Series X and S consoles - including the gorgeous Galaxy Black 2TB machine
How to turn off Meta AI
