Xbox Game Pass Core: The entry-level Game Pass tier

Xbox Game Pass Core: what is it about?

The Game Pass Core has been presented as the natural evolution of the Live Gold service. There are similarities indeed, and differences too. It launched on September 14th, 2023. Existing Live Gold subscriptions were automatically converted to Game Pass Core, which retained the same price as the previous service. The Game Pass Core allows subscribers to play online, so it is a requirement for most online and multiplayer games, with the exception of the free-to-play games that can already be played without the need for a Live Gold subscription.

Goodbye Games with Gold, welcome Library

The biggest difference between the Game Pass Core and the Xbox Live Gold is about the “free” games included with the service. Whereas the Live Gold offered two games each month, the Game Pass Core doesn’t feature monthly games but instead it gives access to a small library of over 25 curated games, with more added 2-3 times per year. Any monthly game already redeemed in the past stayed in the players’ library.
Most games included at launch have been already disclosed, while a few more will be announced before launch. This is the current list of games in the Game Pass Core lineup:

• Among Us
• Astroneer
• Celeste
• Chivalry II
• Cities: Skylines
• Control: Ultimate Edition
• Dead Cells
• Deep Rock Galactic
• 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
• SnowRunner
• Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition
• Stardew Valley
• State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
• Superhot: Mind Control Delete
• Superliminal
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service
• Unpacking
• Vampire Survivors
• Wreckfest

Other Live Gold perks, like member deals and discounts, were kept with the Game Pass Core too, so in the end it seems the only noteworthy difference between the two services was the selection of included games.

Get to know the whole Game Pass family

With the addition of the Game Pass Core, the Game Pass family now has the following tiers:

• Game Pass Core: €6,99/month - Online multiplayer, catalogue of over 25 games, member deals and discounts
• Game Pass Standard: €12,99/month - Library with hundreds of games (console only), member deals and discounts.
• Game Pass PC: €11,99/month - Library with hundreds of games (PC only), new first-party games on Day One, member deals and discounts, access to the EA Play library of games
• Game Pass Ultimate: €17,99/month - Library with hundreds of games (console, PC and cloud), new first-party games on Day One, member deals and discounts, access to the EA Play library of games, online multiplayer for Xbox.

For all levels, buying longer periods results in an overall lower price. A 12-month subscription to Core, for example, costs way less than 12 single 1-month subscriptions.

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