In October, Microsoft plans to stop providing Xbox 360 games in its Games with Gold monthly subscription. With the announcement that it has "reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the library," the software developer has started emailing Xbox Live Gold subscribers to inform them of the change.
Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users receive the monthly perk called as "Games with Gold." All Xbox 360 games are playable on most recent Xbox Series X / S consoles and also Xbox One, and Microsoft handpicks free games each month.
That would explain why Microsoft has now reached the limit on new Xbox 360 titles for Game play with Gold. Microsoft's Xbox backward compatibility program briefly made a return with 76 new games last year, but the company made it clear it had "reached the limit of our ability to bring new games to the catalog from the past due to licensing, legal and technical constraints."
This change will not impact Xbox 360 games that you have already downloaded or redeemed through Games with Gold. Put simply, this implies that beginning on October 1st, Microsoft won't be adding any new Xbox 360 games to the Games with Gold catalog.
While Xbox Game Pass has replaced Xbox Live Gold as the primary subscription for Xbox users, Xbox Live Gold is still very well-liked. Last year, Microsoft attempted to enhance the cost of a yearly subscription, but in response to the criticism, the company changed its mind and even removed the Xbox Live Gold requirement for free-to-play games.
Although the majority of Xbox Live Gold's main features are now free for all existing Xbox users, the subscription still offers monthly discounts for the Microsoft Store. For an Xbox 360, you'll still need an Xbox Live Premium subscription. In terms of Xbox Live Gold's future, Microsoft started discarding the Xbox Live name last year and instead refers to the collection of programs and services as Xbox network.
Here is the complete message that Microsoft sent to Xbox Live Gold members:
From 1 October 2022, the monthly games provided to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live Gold members via Games with Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 titles.
We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue; however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month.
This will not impact any Xbox 360 games that you downloaded before October 2022. Any Xbox 360 titles that you redeem via Games with Gold before that time are yours to keep on your Xbox account, regardless of whether you continue your subscription.
Thank you for being a loyal member.
Team Xbox
Source: The Verge