Xbox has announced the final two games that will be offered to Xbox Live Gold subscribers in August before the service transitions to Xbox Game Pass Core. Starting from September 1, Xbox Live Gold will no longer offer free monthly games, instead, subscribers will be automatically enrolled in Game Pass Core, which provides access to a library of about 25 free titles to play.

The two final games coming to Games with Gold are Blue Fire and Inertial Drift. Blue Fire is a 3D puzzle platformer, while Inertial Drift is a retro arcade-style racing game. Unlike the usual timeline for Gold games, where one game is available from the beginning of the month and another starting on the 16th day, both of these games will be available from August 1 through the end of the month.

Xbox introduced Games with Gold in July 2013, making the August offering the 10th anniversary of the service. Initially, Xbox offered Xbox 360 games, such as Assassin’s Creed II and Defense Grid: The Awakening, and later added Xbox One games. However, from 2022 onwards, Xbox stopped offering 360 games. Gold users will still have access to any games they have claimed once the service converts to Game Pass Core, as long as they remain subscribed.

The transition to Game Pass Core aims to integrate the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, including online multiplayer access, into the Game Pass ecosystem. This change signifies the end of an era for Xbox Live Gold subscribers who have been enjoying free monthly games for nearly a decade. However, the introduction of Game Pass Core provides a new way for subscribers to access a diverse library of free titles.

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