2021 has been an exciting year in the video game industry, given that both the PS5 and Xbox Series X celebrated their first anniversaries in the market. However, on the Xbox side of things, it is apparent thatXbox Games with Gold, a program included withXbox Live, has been slowly fading away into obscurity.
It is no secret that the most significant factors that contributed to the slow decline of Xbox Games with Gold areMicrosoft’s focus on Xbox Game Pass, and the lack of features to make the service more competitive. So now that 2021 has ended, how did Xbox Games with Gold fare in the past year, and should Microsoft dump the service in favor of Xbox Game Pass?
RELATED:Xbox Free Games with Gold for January 2022 Explained
Xbox Games with Gold in 2021
Like every other video game subscription service, Xbox Games with Gold had its share of ups and downs in 2021. At the start of the year, Xbox players were optimistic given the promising lineup Microsoft released in January and February that included games likeResident EvilandGears of War 5.September, October, and November also received a positive receptionfrom fans, thanks to the wide variety of free games likeZone of the Enders: HD Collection, Resident Evil: Code Veronica X, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, and many more.
Why Xbox Games with Gold May No Longer Have a Place Xbox’s Future
Looking at the performance of Xbox Games with Gold last year compared to its competitors, it appears that it may be time for Microsoft to retire the service officially. It is worth remembering that for some years now, there have been talks about the inevitable demise of Xbox Games with Gold, especially amidXbox Game Pass' dominance in the video game industry.
For the uninitiated, Microsoft has repeatedly stated how it sees Xbox Game Pass as the future of Xbox Gaming. For 2022, Microsoft revealed tons of first and third-party games coming to Xbox Game Pass. Not to mention,the service is also set to receive a wide variety of day-one releasesthis year, such asEdge of Eternity, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Weird West,among others. In comparison, Microsoft hasn’t revealed any exciting plans for Xbox Games with Gold, and its first lineup of free games for the year isn’t something to be excited about. For January 2022, Microsoft is releasingNeuroVoider, Aground, Radiant Silvergun, andSpace Invaders Infinity Gene.
