Xbox Live Gold after 20 years discontinued for Game Pass.
It’s not surprising news for many that Xbox Live Gold, the subscription service that has been around for 20 years, is finally coming to an end.
Recently, the reception for Xbox Live Gold has been less than stellar. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the free games offered, claiming that they don’t justify the price. The writing has been on the wall for some time now, and just last month, Microsoft announced a price increase for Xbox Game Pass in anticipation of the release of Starfield. In the UK, the standard Console edition price will rise from £7.99 to £8.99, while in Europe it will go from €9.99 to €10.99. Meanwhile, in the US, the price will increase from $8.99 to $10.99.
According to a report from ComicBook, there are indications that Xbox Live Gold might cease to operate as early as September 1st. The news initially surfaced when a Twitter user named Wario64 noticed a notice on a Korean website.
The information suggests that Xbox Live Gold will be rebranded as Xbox Game Pass Core, which should not be mistaken for the standard Console or Ultimate versions of the service. The newly introduced Core tier is expected to be slightly more affordable than the current options, priced at $9.99.
The upcoming Xbox Game Pass Core is expected to offer similar advantages as Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer, and it is presumed that current Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be seamlessly transitioned to this new offering. While the Games With Gold program will come to an end, Core subscribers will apparently gain access to a library of 25 Game Pass titles. To unlock the complete Game Pass catalog, including access to games on their release day, users will be required to upgrade to the Console or Ultimate editions of Game Pass.
It’s important to note that these details have not been officially confirmed by Microsoft. Nevertheless, the information appears to be quite compelling and credible. It is reasonable to expect that Microsoft will promptly address any confusion surrounding these changes.
