Microsoft will be introducing a change to its subscription services this September, with a new “Core” tier for Xbox Game Pass which gives multiplayer access and a library of almost 30 of the most popular Game Pass titles — including Forza Horizon 4.
Since the original Xbox console launched in 2001, players have needed an Xbox Live subscription in order to access online multiplayer. Although it’s been through a few iterations, that’s persisted to the present day, with the service currently bearing the name Xbox Live Gold and offering two monthly games to subscribers.
This is now being phased out in favour of the new Xbox Game Pass Core. Acting as the entry point of the Game Pass offerings, Core will retain all of the benefits and price of Gold, but will switch out the monthly titles for a permanent and expanding game library.
Microsoft will update the library with new titles “2-3 times a year”, although it’s not clear how many will be added each time. However the launch catalog for Core includes a range of popular titles that include Xbox Game Studios staples like Fallout 4, Elder Scrolls Online, and Forza Horizon 4.
Otherwise the service will remain as it was before, with Xbox Game Pass Console giving full access to the Game Pass library on Xbox consoles but without online multiplayer, Xbox Game Pass PC doing the same thing on Windows 10/11 PCs (with online multiplayer not requiring a subscription), and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate folding all of the other tiers into one.
Pricing will remain the same following Microsoft’s recent price changes, with Core at $/€/£6.99 per month, Game Pass PC at $/€9.99 (£7.99) per month, Game Pass Console at $/€10.99 (£8.99) per month, and Game Pass Ultimate at $16.99 (€14.99/£12.99) per month.
Players currently subscribed to Xbox Live Gold will be automatically migrated to Xbox Game Pass Core when the change takes effect on September 14.
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