Several days ago, rumors surfaced online about the possibility that Microsoft will be phasing out Xbox Live Gold soon. This leak came from reputable insider Jeff Grubb who said that he is only reiterating the same claim he made last year that Xbox Live Gold is going away soon.
However, it is worth noting that Microsoft did respond to rumors last year saying that there are no plans to phase out Xbox Live Gold just yet. Although it is yet to be seen how Microsoft will respond to the re-emergence of the rumor, the prospect of shutting down Xbox Live Gold actually makes sense.
Xbox Live Gold Has Become More Lackluster
It is no secret that ever since 2021 began, Xbox Live Gold players have been mostly disappointed with the service. Several months ago, the requirement of having an active Xbox Live Gold subscription was removed to access the online functionality of free-to-play multiplayer games. The only benefits left for Xbox Live Gold subscribers are access to paid online multiplayer games, Deals with Gold, and Free Games with Gold, with the latter being a major source of disappointment.
For the past several months, the quality and value of Free Xbox Games with Gold have been put into question. Every month, players would usually get two Xbox One games and two Xbox 360 games, and almost all of the games offered in recent years are niche titles. In comparison, players on PS Plus usually get at least one major title from the monthly roster of free games, and since November of last year, one PS5 game has been a staple in PS Plus' free games.
The inclusion of PS5 games on PS Plus has often been the main argument used by Xbox Live Gold players every time they are let down by Xbox's Free Games with Gold. However, given that months have passed and Microsoft has made no attempts to appease disgruntled subscribers, it is clear that the company may have given up on Xbox Live Gold in favor of pushing more players towards Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft is Pushing Xbox Game Pass as the Future of Xbox Gaming
At this point, it is obvious that Microsoft is now slowly seeing itself more as a service provider rather than a traditional console manufacturer. At E3 2021 last month, Microsoft highlighted all the partnerships and acquisitions it has established with third-party developers such as Bethesda, and the many games that are set to be released on Xbox Game Pass day-one.
While Xbox Game Pass still hasn't reached its full potential, it is apparent that Microsoft is using the service to transition the company from a gaming hardware manufacturer to primarily a service provider. True enough, the future of Xbox Game Pass looks bright with everything Microsoft has promised so far, which is why it makes sense for Microsoft to shut down Xbox Live Gold. Even if Xbox consoles will still sell to fans, the gaming subscription offerings are Xbox's new focus.
In the end, it is yet to be seen how Microsoft would respond to new rumors about the shutting down of Xbox Live Gold. However, should those rumors prove to be true, it would eventually be beneficial to everyone involved, especially since the value of Xbox Live Gold has been in question for quite some time now. For current subscribers who are wondering how they will access all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold once it shuts down, it is worth remembering that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass into one solid package for a slightly more expensive monthly fee.