Have you been subscribed to Xbox Live Gold for a while now? If that’s the case, you've probably heard that on September 14th, it will change to Xbox Game Pass Core. Say what?! Yes, you read that right, but no need to fret, friends. We know you might wonder what it means for you. What will change? How many tiers are there? What do I need to do?! There's no room for panic, because any questions you might have about the matter will be answered in a moment. We will tell you all you need to know before the big day, 14th of September, comes along.
What’s the difference between Xbox Game Pass Core and Live Gold?
Let’s start with important matters first: you don’t need to do anything to change your subscription. If you're an Xbox Live Gold member, you will automatically become a Game Pass Core member and have immediate access to 25 high-quality games. No need to change anything! Easy, right? Of course, there are more options, but we’ll get to those in a second.
Let’s take a little trip down memory lane first. It was the year 2002 when Xbox launched its first membership for online gaming, so it’s been around for quite some time. As of September 2023, more than two decades later, Xbox is ready for a brand new start. With the change to Xbox Game Pass Core.
The biggest change will be the games that are going to be discontinued as of September 1st if you have a Gold subscription. Will I lose my games when Xbox Game Pass Core is here? The answer is no. As an existing subscriber, if you keep your Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate membership active, you can continue to dive into the Xbox One games you’ve previously snagged via Games with Gold. Moreover, any Xbox 360 titles secured before will continue to reside in your game library, no matter the current subscription status, ensuring a whimsical gaming journey and transition to the new membership service.
What do I get with Game Pass Core?
So with all these changes, what's in it for you? Well, first of all: access to a ton of exciting content and games like:
- Among Us
- Descenders
- Dishonored 2
- Doom Eternal
- Fable Anniversary
- Fallout 4
- Fallout 76
- Forza Horizon 4
- Gears 5
- Grounded
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Human Fall Flat
- Inside
- Ori & The Will of the Wisps
- Psychonauts 2
- State of Decay 2
- The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
More games will be added to the library so stay tuned!
How much does Xbox Game Pass Core cost?
Ah, the important question. The good news is that the price of your subscription won't change! It will remain the same as it is right now. Meaning that you get a ton of games for $9.99/£12.99 if you are a Core member! Again, there is no need to change anything yourself. However, if you want the Ultimate experience then we recommend upgrading your subscription for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gaming experience.
What Game Pass subscription is best?
Having a Game Pass Core membership is perfect if you mostly play online multiplayer games and if you’re satisfied with the 25 games Xbox provides for you. Do you want access to more games, but don’t care about multiplayer? Then changing the plan to Game Pass Console is perfect for you! More of a PC gamer? The Game Pass PC subscription will satisfy your hunger for PC gaming perfectly!
But if you want it all, my friend, Game Pass Ultimate is calling your name! Game Pass Ultimate allows you to have the same benefits as the core membership. Instead of getting access to only 25 games, you will also get access to a more frequently updated catalog of hundreds of titles on console, PC, and cloud, day one games perks along with multiplayer. That’s one heck of a deal!
How do I change my Game Pass subscription to Game Pass Core?
If you want to upgrade your subscription, you can do this on your Xbox console or take the following steps for PC:
- Go to the Xbox website and sign into your account
- Click on the picture and choose my Microsoft account
- At the top of the screen, click ‘ services & subscription’
- From there you can cancel and choose a new subscription
Note: if you have a multi-month or annual subscription, it will be cancelled when the subscription ends.
Do Xbox Gift Cards still work with Game Pass Core?
Do you still have some Xbox Gift Cards lying around and don’t know how this will work after the changes? Good news, because nothing will change in regard to codes from Xbox Live Gold Gift Cards! You will still be able to redeem your card after Xbox makes the change to Game Pass. And know that whenever you need to top up your account, there are plenty of trusted partners where you can buy your Xbox Gift Card like dundle! If you already know that the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the one for you, you can easily buy a Game Pass Core Ultimate Gift Card.
Goodbye Xbox Live Gold, hello Game Pass Core!
Xbox Live Gold move over, because Game Pass Core is here to add a bit more spice to your gaming experience! Luckily, you are well-prepared for September 14th to choose which Game Pass suits you best to get the ultimate experience. Get ready to immerse yourself in all the joy that comes with this new era of Xbox gaming!
