I suspect many of the publisher's back catalog of games will hit Xbox Game Pass very shortly after the deal closes.

Microsoft is on the verge of grabbing Activision-Blizzard-King, massively expanding its PC gaming catalog and mobile gaming footprint.

The end of Xbox Live Gold is a watershed moment in Xbox's history, punctuating an era of huge change within the brand. That will massively inflate Xbox Game Pass' overall subscriber base to tens of millions and give newcomers a taste of what subscription-based content libraries look like for gaming. Xbox Game Pass Core will launch this Fall and automatically convert all existing Xbox Live Gold members to the new service. Xbox Live's 'Games with Gold' service will go away on September 1st, although any of the games you redeemed as part of that program will remain active on your account. Those who want Xbox online gameplay will not only keep that service, but they'll also now get access to discounts and deals on Xbox Game Pass and a library of 25 or more games from Microsoft's back catalog. A few years ago, Microsoft ignited an uproar by announcing that it would no longer support 12 monthly subscriptions of Xbox Live Gold - which Xbox Game Pass currently doesn't offer in its other tiers. 7 amazing indie games coming to Xbox Game PassĮither way, it's good that Microsoft has left the Xbox Game Pass Core option at $59.99 per year.

Xbox Game Pass- 12 Month Digital Code