Today marks the release of the first batch of Xbox Games with Gold titles for the decade, with the free service releasing two games across both the Xbox One and the Xbox 360 right now and two more later this month. As users of the service will know, these games are free for anyone in possession of an Xbox Live Gold membership, so if one isn't subscribed to Microsoft’s online service then they won’t be able to pick up the first wave of free games for 2020.
The first of the two games available today is Styx: Shards of Darkness; a stealth-action sequel to 2014’s Mark of Shadows in which the player takes on the role of a goblin assassin named Styx. It was released back in 2017, with critics praising its improvements to the predecessors’ core gameplay and the inclusion of a number of new features. It will be available until the end of the month on the Xbox One.
The second game Xbox players can get their hands on is Tekken 6, which will be available on the Xbox 360. Part of the iconic fighting franchise, Tekken 6 is a multifaceted and competitive fighting game with a large roster. It released back in 2007 and has since become one of the franchise’s more divisive entries, garnering both its share of praise and criticism from the wide player base. Unlike Styx, Tekken 6 will only be available until January 15, so Games with Gold players shouldn’t wait around on claiming their free copy.
While both these titles are available today, Games with Gold users will be getting another batch of games on January 16. Xbox One owners will receive a copy of Batman: The Telltale Series and Xbox 360 users will get their hands on Lego Star Wars 2: The Original Trilogy. Both games are strong titles that will keep players busy while they eagerly await the bigger releases coming to Xbox One in the early months of 2020.
PlayStation users will also be getting a batch of free games through Sony’s PS Plus subscription later this month. The lineup for January 2020 will see players get their hands on Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, which contains the original trilogy of Uncharted games, as well as the cult-classic Goat Simulator. While technically receiving four renown games on PS Plus is no doubt impressive, many have complained that the lineup seems somewhat lackluster. It remains to be seen if Sony has some more attractive titles on the cards for PS Plus in the coming months.