The service has been a disruptor for gaming's traditional buy-and-resell business model and has heralded in a more subscription based approach that's since seen numerous competitors. Often touted as a “Netflix for games,” Xbox Game Pass has been a crucial pillar of Microsoft’s radical vision for its gaming platform. The increase marked the service’s first price hike since it was introduced in 2017. Earlier this month, Xbox increased the price for Game Pass for Console from $9.99 to $10.99, and Game Pass Ultimate, which includes access to EA Play, online multiplayer, and PC games, from $14.99 to $16.99. The new Game Pass variant is the latest change to Microsoft’s subscription services. Any free games received via Xbox Live’s Games With Gold program before the switch will still be accessible as long as a player’s Core subscription remains active. Existing subscribers will automatically be shifted to Game Pass Core. Xbox Live Gold will officially end on Sept 14. This tier will not include day one access to new releases like the upcoming Starfield. Like Xbox Live Gold, Game Pass Core will cost $9.99 for a month, and $59.99 for a year.

This replaces the 'Games with Gold' program, which would give Xbox Live Gold owners access to new games on a monthly basis. New games will be added to the list two to three times a year, according to Monday’s announcement. In addition to online play, Core will also give subscribers access to more than 25 Game Pass games, including Fallout 4, Gears 5, and Among Us.

Xbox Game Pass Core will be the new subscription for Xbox gamers who want to play games online-and who don't already subscribe to a higher tier of Game Pass. Microsoft is discontinuing Xbox Live Gold, the subscription service that gives Xbox players access to online multiplayer, and replacing it with a new, limited tier of Game Pass for the same price.

Xbox game pass or gold live