Over the course of a few years now, Xbox Game Pass has become front and center for the Xbox platform. As for console players, the ongoing Xbox Live Gold & Xbox Games with Gold has continue to feel neglected as more explosive additions hit the new service. Previously, it was evident that Xbox Game Pass is diluting sibling programs, we wrote in one opinion piece.

Additionally, Microsoft was clearly exploring new opportunities for the service. In the past, it was planned to increase pricing for Xbox Live, but after backlash was scrapped entirely. And with how PlayStation Plus’ new tiers have proven to drive traction, it appears Microsoft is planning to do the same. It was reported that a new ‘Xbox Game Pass Core’ service would ship later this year to scrap Xbox Live Gold.

Even more, this would also do away with Xbox Games with Gold after a decade. On Monday, Microsoft officially announces the new Core tier and will replace Xbox Live Gold. It is also said a collection of 25 games is to be available at no cost for subscribers. You can read the revealed list below:

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

“Our launch collection of more than 25 titles from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and our content partners will offer something for everyone to play on their Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. Today we’re confirming the following titles for launch*, with more to be announced in advance,” corporate vice president of gaming marketing Jerret West writes.

“With this evolution, we’re saying farewell to Games with Gold. We wanted to use this opportunity to re-imagine how to include content with this subscription. We found that the answer to the most compelling catalog was to leverage select titles from our Xbox Game Pass catalog.” West also tells that roughly three games per year will be included in the growing list.

In the farewells to Xbox Live & Xbox Games with Gold, there was a catalyst for all these chain of events previously. It was revealed back in 2020 that Microsoft already planned to redshift the course for its subscriptions when pulling Xbox Live 12-month plans from the Microsoft Store then. You can read the full report by heading here.

What is your thoughts on the new Xbox Game Pass Core subscription so far?

Source: Xbox Wire