Microsoft starts testing its Xbox Live Gold replacement

Xbox Game Pass Core is now being tested by Xbox Insiders ahead of its debut next month.

by Tom Warren

Aug 2, 2023, 2:23 PM UTC

Image: Microsoft

Tom Warren is a senior correspondent and author of Notepad, who has been covering all things Microsoft, PC, and tech for over 20 years.

Microsoft is starting to test Xbox Game Pass Core, its replacement for Xbox Live Gold. Xbox testers in the Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead rings will be able to preview Xbox Game Pass Core this week, provided they’re existing Xbox Live Gold members.

The full Xbox Game Pass Core subscription will include the usual Xbox online console multiplayer support, deals and discounts, and a new small catalog of more than 25 games. Xbox Insiders will only get access to Psychonauts 2, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, State of Decay 2, and Doom Eternal initially this week as part of the Game Pass Core library testing.

“The full library will become accessible at launch on September 14,” explains Lily Wang, a senior product manager at Xbox. “You will also start to see Xbox Live Gold branding updated to Game Pass Core.” Microsoft wants testers to file feedback if they notice parts of the Xbox dashboard where it still refers to Xbox Live Gold over the coming weeks.

Xbox Game Pass Core launches next month after Microsoft bumped its overall Xbox Game Pass monthly prices in July. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has moved from $14.99 per month to $16.99 (€14.99 / £12.99). The base Xbox Game Pass for Console pricing has also been increased from $9.99 a month to $10.99 (€10.99 / £8.99). Microsoft is also discontinuing its Xbox Game Pass Friends & Family plan on August 15th, and it’s not clear if this “preview program” will ever return at a later date.

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