In July 2022, Xbox Games with Gold will be 9 years old, meaning next year will be the service’s 10-year anniversary. It has obviously changed a lot in that time, increasing the number of games given, expanding from Xbox 360 to Xbox One, and so on. However, it seems Xbox Games with Gold has gotten to the point that fans are no longer disappointed when the line-up is lackluster—they just expect it to be.
That’s something that no one wants, of course, but it is understandable. Microsoft is pushing Xbox Game Pass over Games with Gold, and minus the online requirement of Xbox Live Gold for premium games of the latter, Games with Gold doesn’t offer the same value. Without that requirement, many probably wouldn’t even have it at this point, and it’s less important than ever since free-to-play games don’t require it anymore. There are some suggestions that Games with Gold will eventually dissolve, with that online access becoming a perk of Game Pass, but its future is really uncertain.
Comparatively, it does feel sometimes like Games with Gold is at the end of its life, but it certainly gave fans a lot over the years. The negativity toward it now is mired exactly in that here and now, with there being some amazing months over its nearly nine years of existence. If this does happen, Games with Gold should ensure it ends on a bang. Indeed, if one compares the first four months of Games with Gold back in 2013 to the first four months of 2022, there is a vast difference. Games with Gold, when and if it does end, would do well to channel these first four months.
Xbox Games with Gold First Free Games of 2013
Fable 3 It was not technically a Games with Gold title, but it was given away in June in the lead-up to the program’s release. Phil Spencer had revealed this program at E3 that year, and it had built a considerable amount of hype. Indeed, it seems safe to say that Games with Gold laid the foundation for the current Xbox ecosystem, really and truly being a predecessor to Xbox Game Pass.
- Xbox Games with Gold for July 2013 were Defense Grid: The Awakening and Assassin’s Creed 2
- Xbox Games with Gold for August 2013 were Crackdown and Dead Rising 2
- Xbox Games with Gold for September 2013 were Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers 2013 and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas
- Xbox Games with Gold for October 2013 were Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes and Halo 3.
One thing to keep in mind is that the early Games with Gold giveaways were largely to promote the then-upcoming launch of the Xbox One, so of course, it went big. But still, it showed promise. Pretty much all of these games are immediately identifiable and were a good welcome mat for that console. Games with Gold opened strong and went strong for the longest time; Indeed, ultimately, Game Pass’ arrival (no matter how good of a thing it is for the Xbox economy) was one of the biggest nails in this coffin of content.
Xbox Games with Gold First Free Games of 2022
While Games with Gold led the celebration of the Xbox One, Games with Gold has not really played a role in many of Microsoft’s acquisitions, nor has it played any role in the Series X launch. All that Games with Gold once was in 2013 has become part of Game Pass’ role. after all, Starfield is a day one Series X launch title on Game Pass—not Games with Gold.
- Xbox Games with Gold for January 2022 were NeuroVoider, Aground, Radiant Silvergun, and Space Invaders Infinity Gene.
- Xbox Games with Gold for February 2022 were Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse, Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield, Hydrophobiaand Band of Bugs.
- Xbox Games with Gold for March 2022 were The Flame in the Flood, Street Power Soccer, Sacred 2 Fallen Angel, and SpongeBob’s Truth or Square.
- Xbox Games with Gold for April 2022 are Another Sight, Hue, Outpost Kaloki Xand MX vs. ATV Live.
Looking at the 2022 games is a world of difference; it doesn’t even seem like the same service. A lot changes in 9 years, and once again, Game Pass has had a huge impact here. Ultimately, though, a few of these games are recognizable and even less likely keep up enough now to even download them. This is NOT to say these games are not fun or anything like that, but this comparison makes it really clear how much has shifted from Games with Gold to Game Pass.
The past four months vs. Games with Gold’s first four months are like night and day, and Microsoft should ever sunset Games with Gold, it should ensure its last few months are as strong as its first few. Games with Gold welcomed the Xbox One; it’s only fitting, if it ever came about, that it got a proper goodbye.
Xbox Games with Gold subscribers get a handful of free games every month.
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