How can it have been 12 months since Xbox Games with Gold departed us? Time really does fly, and in the past year we’ve seen its replacement – Xbox Game Pass Core – prove pretty popular amongst those who want XGP access at a cheaper price point. But for me, a regular subscriber to Ultimate, I still find myself missing Games with Gold.
And yeah, I know… the last year of the service was not particularly enticing by any means. Looking at the 17 games that were given away with Xbox Games with Gold in 2023, I think I’ve only played, like, three of them? Those three games I did really enjoy though, especially Star Wars Episode 1 Racer which was a fantastic blast from the past!
Go back a bit further, and there are games like Yoku’s Island Express, Gears 5, Dead Rising, Portal 2 and so many others that I may not be playing regularly anymore, but I’ve definitely dipped into now and again. With Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster on the horizon, I’m really grateful I can still access Dead Rising thanks to Xbox Games with Gold.
And you know what? There was just something really nice about that time of the month when you knew you were getting a new batch of Xbox Games with Gold reveals. It’s like the Game Pass announcements we highlight these days – they’re a bit of an event that you can look forward to, even if the result isn’t always what you’d ideally hoped for.
With Xbox Game Pass Core, we’re just not seeing that yet. In the 12 months since Xbox Games with Gold finished up, there have only been eight games added to the service (in December, April and August respectively). That’s not necessarily a bad thing as they have to draw the line somewhere, but it’s also just pretty unexciting.
So yeah, this isn’t me saying – “Microsoft, you were wrong”. I’m not sure it was the wrong decision to kill off Xbox Games with Gold. But as we look back 12 months later, I can’t help but miss it. I’m just glad the games are still playable!
Do you still miss Xbox Games with Gold? Let us know in the poll and the comments section below.
