The existing Xbox Live Gold and Games subscription provided Xbox console players with online access and a handful of games to download and play each month, analogous to the base PlayStation Plus tier.
However, with the Game Pass brand being of increased importance to Microsoft over recent years, this will now be re-branded to Xbox Game Pass Core on 14th September 2023.
Unlike PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass for Console (yes, we’ll now have to start using their full names as opposed to just ‘Game Pass’), Core does not include access to the gigantic library of games. Instead, it will provide a line-up of 25 titles alongside online gameplay for those with an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
It will continue to be priced at $9.99/£6.99 per month or $59.99/£49.99 per year.
Instead of monthly game library changes, Microsoft states that the roster will change when new titles are added “2-3 times a year.” 14 of the initial 25 games have been revealed, with the elder Forza Horizon 4 being the only racing addition so far:
- 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
Those who currently subscribe to Xbox Live Gold will simply roll into Game Pass Core.
It will mean that the four Game Pass tiers are as follows: Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
