RELATED:Xbox Free Games With Gold for December 2021 Explained
The State of Xbox Games with Gold in 2021
Unfortunately, the months that followed only strengthened the argument that Microsoft no longer cares about Xbox Games with Gold as it once did. A big part of that neglect on Microsoft’s end is due tothe company focusing much of its efforts on Xbox Game Pass, which sees the release of day-one AAA titles, alongside a much stronger library of games. However, succeeding months in 2021 also highlighted Xbox Games With Gold’s strength, which is the venue for players to rediscover old yet popular games.
In September and October, Xbox Games with Gold saw the inclusion of popular titles such asZone of the Enders HD CollectionandSamurai Shodown,followed by Halloween-appropriate gamessuch asResident Evil Code Veronica XandCastlevania: Harmony of Despair. Unfortunately, when December’s roster of free games was announced, fans were once again disappointed, which is a shame given that Microsoft had every opportunity to end 2021 with one final stellar lineup of free games.
Microsoft Could Have Ended 2021 With a Better Games with Gold Lineup
Another significant change that Microsoft could have implemented in Xbox Games with Gold is the removal of Xbox 360 in place of even more Xbox One games. While it has been argued thatone of Xbox Games with Gold’s strengthsis to be a venue for players to rediscover classic titles, Microsoft should see that Xbox One games are now considered as “the new old,” especially since more and more players are transitioning to the Xbox Series X/S.
In the end, December’s lineup of Xbox Games with Gold proves that Microsoft seemingly no longer prioritizes the program in the future of Xbox gaming. For months now, the companyhas been promoting Xbox Game Pass as the future, which shows that maybe 2022 is the perfect time to either retire Xbox Games with Gold or merge its features to Xbox Game Pass, without having players pay extra.
MORE:Xbox Free Games With Gold for 2021 Started the Year Strong, So What Happened?
