Microsoft is replacing Xbox Live Gold with "Xbox Game Pass Core"
Microsoft is replacing Xbox Live Gold with "Xbox Game Pass Core"
https://twitter.com/Wario64/status/1680733391464071169
@Wario64: Xbox Live Gold will apparently transition to Xbox Game Pass Core on Sept 1st
-includes online multiplayer and various benefits -same price as XBLG -Existing XBLG subscribers will convert to Core -includes 25 Game Pass titles -GWG offers will end
I really, really don't like the "games as a service" thing Microsoft is trying to shove into the industry. Just watch, it will pan out exactly like the streaming services. Once the golden years (equivalent of OG Netflix) of "burn money by throwing in more games than we can afford" are over, we will gradually see fragmentation, price hikes, cost-cutting, etc.
Fuck Microsoft.
I know I'm preaching to the choir, but whatever.
I know what you're saying, and it's definitely possible this will backfire on us, but currently Microsoft has been really dedicated to PC gaming and have been really good to PC gamers.
All games are released on game pass day 1, which means you can play all of their new games for cheap vs having to pay $100 CAD+ for them. They are also releasing their games on steam, which means you don't even have to use their platform. They are also integrating other companies into game pass, so you can play EA Games and Ubisoft games if you have a game pass subscription. I played the crap out of battlefield 2042 through my game pass subscription.
They also have the ability to play Xbox only games on PC, which is super awesome. It requires the next tier up, and then you can straight up play Xbox games on your PC. I was playing Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts. It launches the game in some kind of cloud gaming emulator thing.
So idk. I don't really agree with your Fuck Microsoft attitude, because they are currently being really incredible for the PC gaming market. I say we can be skeptical about the future, but I don't really see much to hate on right now.
Edit: Microsoft also doesn't require a subscription. Like I said, you can buy their games on steam, or you can buy them from the Microsoft store. A subscription is optional, and it's nice for people who want to pay $15 CAD per month and play a crap ton of different games instead of paying out right for 1 game.
Well. Of course they are currently good to PC players. They want to take over a large chunk of the market after all.
The new food delivery business local to me has also been giving me a lot of subsidized delivery options. Until they run out of money or own a large chunk of the market that is.
GamePass for me actually ends up being more expensive. The majority of games on there aren't really good games or one I'd like to play. So once we approach a subscription only model I'll have to pay 15 money per month to just play that one game I like.
It's already happened with games like Redfall - just pump out any crap to keep up the "content" numbers.
And then raise prices once you've got a large market.
In the end it'll be like Netflix - mass-produced, low-quality games for a steep subscription - more aimed at sitting your children down to keep them quiet, than a high quality experience for gamers.
Redfall's development was started years before Microsoft acquired Zenimax. They had nothing to do with any of the GAAS stuff in that game. In fact people at Bethesda were hoping that Microsoft would cancel Redfall because its development had been so troubled, but Xbox apparently has a very hands off approach with their studios. Maybe that will change in the wake of Redfall's disastrous release.
RIP Games with Gold
So they finally did it? Last time they wanted to increase the Xbox live price, people went crazy. Now they rename it and throw some games you might never play and raise the price to 10€.
That's a lot. Imagine how gamepass will look like in ~5years if it becomes really big. Sold my Series X some weeks ago since I was never using it. I was almost exclusively playing on my PC.
The price of Game Pass Core is the same as the current price of Xbox Live Gold. This is basically a rebranding exercise (and the long-expected culling of Games With Gold).
Laughs in PC multiplayer