Xbox Game Pass Core: A new entry in the Game Pass Family

Xbox Game Pass Core: the new arrival

The Game Pass Core has been presented as the natural evolution of the Live Gold service. There are similarities indeed, and differences too. The launch date has been set to September 14th, 2023. On that day all current Live Gold subscribers will have their subscription switched to the Game Pass Core, which incidentally will maintain the same price as the service it’s replacing. No surprises here, really. The Game Pass Core will allow subscribers to play online, so it will be 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 will have no more monthly games but will instead give access to a small library of over 25 curated games, that will be updated 2-3 times per year. The good news is that any monthly game already redeemed in the past will stay in the players’ library.
Most games included at launch have been already disclosed, while a few more will be announced before the launch. This is the list so far:

• Among Us
• Astroneer
• Celeste
• Chivalry II
• 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
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service
• Unpacking
• Vampire Survivors

Other Live Gold perks, like member deals and discounts, will be kept with the Game Pass Core too, so in the end it seems the only noteworthy difference between the two services will be 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 will have the following tiers:

• Game Pass Core: €6,99/month - Online multiplayer, catalogue of over 25 games, member deals and discounts
• Game Pass Console: €10,99/month - Library with hundreds of games (console only), new first-party games on Day One, member deals and discounts. NO ONLINE MULTIPLAYER!
• Game Pass PC: €9,99/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: €14,99/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.

Note: according to some rumours, the Game Pass Console should disappear soon. We have no official info on this topic, but considering that modern game companies are pushing heavily towards the “always online” model and that the Console tier does not include any kind of online features, it seems reasonable. At the moment it’s only a rumour, we will see how things will evolve.

Is it possible to buy the Xbox Game Pass Core at Gamecardsdirect?

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