As of September 14, Xbox Live Gold is officially history, making way for Xbox Game Pass Core. The new offering sets itself apart from its predecessor by featuring a rotating library of 36 games, as opposed to letting players claim permanent titles each month. While the change sounds promising, the initial list of games may not be thrilling enough for hardcore Xbox fans.
On the brighter side, Game Pass Core offers a lot of titles, from the classic, adrenaline-pumping “Doom Eternal” to “Stardew Valley.” With an annual subscription of just $60, it certainly offers value for money, especially for players new to these titles. But the flip side is the three- to six-month waiting period for any update in the list, raising questions about its long-term appeal. Xbox is definitely playing it smart with this one.
Xbox Game Pass Core library:
- Among Us
- Astroneer
- Celeste
- Dead Cells
- Descenders
- Dishonored 2
- Doom Eternal Standard Edition
- Fable Anniversary
- Fallout 4
- Fallout 76
- Firewatch
- Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition
- Gang Beasts
- Gears 5 Game of the Year Edition
- Golf with your Friends
- Grounded
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Human Fall Flat
- Inside
- Limbo
- Ori & the Will of the Wisps
- Overcooked! 2
- Payday 2: Crimewave Edition
- Powerwash Simulator
- Psychonauts 2
- Slay the Spire
- Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
- Stardew Valley
- State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
- Superliminal
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
- Unpacking
- Vampire Survivors
Then there’s another ‘catch.’ Game Pass Core will be essential for multiplayer gaming. Simply put, if you want some squad action in Call of Duty or other multiplayer games, you’re bound to this service. While this might seem like a reasonable deal for newcomers, veterans of the Xbox community might feel somewhat unhappy with this decision.
Is this switch a fresh start or a step back? While the rotating list adds a twist of surprise, the relatively stagnant lineup may not be appealing to some players. Microsoft has this big opportunity to reevaluate and refresh the list more frequently, thus keeping the excitement alive. In its current form, however, Game Pass Core seems like a mixed bag—a convenient yet not a special change in the Xbox ecosystem.
Bottom line? Xbox Game Pass Core has its merits for sure, but whether it’s the next big thing in gaming is definitely debatable. As the platform evolves slowly, Microsoft should take community feedback seriously if they want to make this a long-term success.
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