Well, you can’t say your timing isn’t focused. Just a day after Microsoft denied rumors that they were converting the Xbox Live Gold call or killing the service, Microsoft said this weekend was the best time to try … what it would be like if Xbox Live Gold was killed.
They organize another loose multiplayer weekend in which you can play a series of games in multiplayer mode without the need for Xbox Live Gold. The list is below:
It’s rarely the first time they’ve done this, and Sony is also doing the same thing with PS Plus that same weekend. And yet the timing is just fun, Microsoft categorically denies that Xbox Live Gold is changing, then it appears what life would be like without it, if you can only access multiplayer mode in online games for the rates you already pay to your ISP, rather than giving more cash every month/year to Microsoft in most cases.
It all started because of rumors that Microsoft was going to optimize its offerings and eliminate Gold, which would allow the multiplayer mode to be really loose. This would work well, for example, with the release of Halo Infinite and its advertised loose multiplayer mode, which is rarely very loose as you want gold for that. The concept is that Microsoft will turn to focus on the fact that everyone gets Game Pass instead, where Ultimate combines with Xcloud, and that way they will end up earning more cash than with annual Gold subscriptions of $60, given the mandatory nature of the Game Pass has become the Xbox ecosystem. And killing Gold would be another credit to Sony, loading PS Plus, unless they make the decision to do the same.
Microsoft’s denials don’t seem true to me. They simply say they don’t replace anything with Xbox Live Gold “for now,” but any time after “now” turns out to be a fair game. And as we delve into this new generation, Gold that exists along with Game Pass and Xcloud just doesn’t seem to be the right choice, especially if Microsoft tries to consolidate its player-friendly reputation, “we just need everyone to play together.” been cultivating for the last few years.
Again, this weekend is just a test and it’s not the first time it’s happened. But the timing is exceptional and I still don’t miss the impending death of Xbox Live Gold, say what you say now.
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