Microsoft today unveiled a new subscription option for Xbox gamers.
Xbox Game Pass Core launches on Sept. 14 for $9.99 per month ($59.99 per year). Microsoft describes it as the "evolution of Xbox Live Gold." It will also replace the Games with Gold feature, which offered two free games per month.
Core combines online play, regular member deals and discounts, and access to 25 titles taken from a range of publishers including Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda. New games will be added to the line up "2-3 times a year."
The games available at launch include:
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
Games with Gold ends on Sept. 1 and existing Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members on Sept. 14 (and will continue to pay $60 per year). Members will be happy/relieved to hear that any Xbox One games previously redeemed through Games with Gold will remain accessible as long as they continue to subscribe to Core. On the other hand, Xbox 360 titles redeemed through Games with Gold will remain playable even if they stop subscribing.
With the launch of Core, Microsoft will have four tiers of Game Pass to choose between. Core and PC both cost $9.99 per month, Console costs $10.99 per month, and Ultimate is $16.99 per month. Paying the additional $6.99 to upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate will see existing Core/Live Gold members gain access to new games on day one, hundreds of games rather than just 25, and EA Play membership.
Earlier this year, Microsoft admitted that Game Pass lowered game sales, contradicting what Xbox boss Phil Spener had claimed previously. And according to Sony, publishers don't like Game Pass. With today's announcement, Microsoft clearly doesn't care about the negativity and must believe the subscription games model works in the long term even if the sums don't add up for a few more years.
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