Xbox 360 games will no longer be part of Xbox Games with Gold in October

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

The monthly Games with Gold offer will be removed from Microsoft's website in October. The software maker stated in the email that the company has reached the limit of its ability to bring games to the catalogue.

Games with Gold is a monthly benefit for subscribers. Every month, Microsoft picks a game that is free and can be played on the latest generation of consoles.

The company said it had reached the limit of its ability to bring new games to the catalog due to licensing, legal and technical constraints. That's why it has reached the limit on new titles.

Games with Gold will not be affected by the change if you have already downloaded or redeemed a game. Beginning October 1st, Microsoft won't be adding any more games to the Games with Gold offering.

Xbox Live Gold is still popular despite the fact that Game Pass is the must-have subscription. Microsoft attempted to double the cost of a yearly subscription to the service last year, but after a backlash the company reversed course and removed the requirement for free-to-play games.

Most of the core features of the subscription are free to all modern XBOX owners. You will need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to use the console. As for the future of Xbox Live Gold, Microsoft began referring to the set of software and services as the XBOX network last year.

The full email from Microsoft is here.

From 1 October 2022, the monthly games provided to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live Gold members via Games with Gold will no longer include Xbox 360 titles.

We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue; however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month.

This will not impact any Xbox 360 games that you downloaded before October 2022. Any Xbox 360 titles that you redeem via Games with Gold before that time are yours to keep on your Xbox account, regardless of whether you continue your subscription.

Thank you for being a loyal member.

Team Xbox