Xbox Live Gold is Microsoft's subscription service that provides Xbox players access to online multiplayer, special offers, and monthly free games. While access to the Xbox console's online functionality is the primary reason players subscribe to the service, the monthly roster of free Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games is also its biggest selling point.
Some players are probably wondering what lies in the future of Xbox Live Gold, especially now that Xbox players are slowly transitioning from the Xbox One to the Xbox Series X. As of the moment, Microsoft hasn't revealed any plans for Xbox Live Gold, which suggests that the service will run as usual in 2021. Despite this, here are some predictions of what players should expect from Xbox Live Gold this year.
Xbox Live Gold Will Continue for the Foreseeable Future
Last year, a rumor began circulating online claiming that Microsoft is planning to discontinue Xbox Live Gold. Shortly after the rumor gained traction, some speculated whether the possible cancellation of the service would mean that Microsoft is also removing the paywall to access the Xbox One's online functionalities. However, these rumors were quickly shot down by Microsoft, saying that it has no plans to discontinue Xbox Live Gold for the foreseeable future. The company also said that the service is an important part of Xbox gaming, reiterating that Xbox Live Gold won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Now that the Xbox Series X is already out in the market, players can still access the service on the new console as long as the subscription fee. The reason why Xbox Live Gold will remain relevant despite the new console generation is because of the Xbox Series X's backward compatibility feature that allows it to play almost any game from previous Xbox generations. This alone strengthens the longevity of Xbox Live Gold, and players should expect that the service will continue as usual, unless Microsoft makes drastic changes to the way it provides access to online multiplayer and its distribution of free monthly games.
Xbox Series X Games May Not Come To The Service Anytime Soon
However, players wondering when Microsoft will start offering Xbox Series X games in Xbox Live Gold will be disappointed, given that it will probably take a while before games specifically made of the Xbox Series X will be added to the service. Although Xbox One games with Xbox Series X versions will likely be added first, it would probably take a while before Microsoft adds true Xbox Series X titles to the Xbox Live Gold's roster. At the moment, true Xbox Series X games are still few, given that the console just launched last November. Even if Microsoft can accumulate more Xbox Series X in the coming months and years, it will probably not offer them to the service right away, given that it is rare for Xbox Live Gold to offer a brand new game to its roster.
Looking at the history of Xbox Live Gold, it is worth remembering that the first-ever Xbox One game to be released on the service is Halo: Spartan Assault. The game was launched in July of 2013 and it was only added to Xbox Live Gold almost a year later in June 2014. Although this timeframe is not a standard for all Xbox Live Gold games, most of them would have to spend at least a year before being offered for free to the service. Should Microsoft follow the same pattern for Xbox Series X, players should expect to see true Xbox Series X games in Xbox Live Gold sometime in 2021 or 2022 at the latest.
Microsoft Could Drop Original Xbox and Xbox 360 Games
Lastly, one significant thing that Microsoft could change in Xbox Live Gold sometime in the future is the variety of games. At the moment, the roster of free games that Xbox Live Gold subscribers get is a mix between the original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. However, once Microsoft starts to include Xbox Series X games in the mix, the company may drop the original Xbox in its offerings to make room for the newer games. Additionally, it is also possible that Xbox 360 games will also be abandoned, especially if Microsoft shifts focus to the Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
It is worth noting that this move is not unprecedented in the video game industry. Ever since Sony stopped offering free games to PS3 and PS Vita players, the company has since transitioned its roster of free games to mostly PS4 games alongside some PS5 versions of PS4 titles. Given this, it is likely that Microsoft will adopt the same approach to streamline its roster and make its offer of free monthly games more enticing to Xbox players.