It is no secret that 2021 has not been a good year for the Xbox Live Gold service so far, specifically its Games with Gold program. For the past months, the program has been widely criticized by fans given the lackluster games it offers to its subscribers and the lack of an Xbox Series X/S game. Many see this as putting Xbox players at a disadvantage compared to PS Plus subscribers, who constantly receive a free PS5 game since the console's launch in November.
However, there were rare occasions when Xbox Live Gold subscribers were happy with the roster of games Microsoft offers, and such is the case for August 2021. While this month's roster still doesn't include a next-gen game, the Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles were able to evoke praise from longtime subscribers. But, the big question now is, will Microsoft be able to replicate the success of August's roster? And what should players expect from September's Xbox Free Games with Gold?
September's Games with Gold Could Follow February's Pattern
As previously mentioned, Xbox Games with Gold had its fair share of good months where subscribers were happy with the free games Microsoft offered. Such is the case for February of this year, thanks to the inclusion of big-name games such as the remastered remake of the first Resident Evil game. Not to mention, February also saw the inclusion of the Xbox Series X/S optimized version of Gears 5, which at the time, many believed was the start of Microsoft finally including support for its latest consoles in the Free Games with Gold program.
Unfortunately, it appears that the excellent selection of games Microsoft offered in February 2021 was only a one-time thing, and it is speculated that the only reason why the company temporarily changed its ways was to appease its disgruntled subscribers. It is worth remembering that before the announcement of February's Games with Gold, Microsoft attempted to raise the subscription price of Xbox Live Gold. Unsurprisingly, this move by Microsoft garnered widespread criticism, forcing the company to reverse its price hike attempt, and it appears that February's roster of Games with Gold was only a one-time deal to appease the backlash.
Things May Turn Around for Xbox Games With Gold
If Microsoft is following the same pattern it implemented early this year, then it is possible that September's Games with Gold will once again disappoint players with its lackluster selection of free games. However, one glimmer of hope that may point to Microsoft changing its selection process for Games with Gold is, unlike February, the company has no reason to appease disgruntled subscribers right now. It is possible that Microsoft selected better games for August 2021 because the company has finally heard all the complaints its subscribers have been hurling since the start of the year.
Of course, at this point, it is still too early to tell whether the pattern set by August 2021 will be implemented throughout the year, especially since it appears that Microsoft randomly selects the games that it offers Xbox Live subscribers. However, by offering better Xbox One and Xbox 360 games to Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft has the opportunity to make the Games with Gold program the venue for players to try out and appreciate older games.
Additionally, it is safe to assume that Microsoft has no plans to offer Xbox Series X/S games to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, given that the company has made it clear that it is reserving next-gen games for the Xbox Game Pass. Despite this, the least Microsoft could do is improve the quality of games, whether it be Xbox One or Xbox 360, to balance out all the benefits that it continues to pour on Xbox Game Pass.