Among all the video game subscription services available in the market today, Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold is often the most criticized by players due to the overall value it provides players compared to its competitors. In 2020, Xbox players were more unhappy than not, with some thinking that Microsoft takes “quantity over quality approach” to selecting free games it offers monthly. This could potentially have something to do with the sheer value of Game Pass, but that’s neither here nor there for many subscribers.
Apart from free monthly games, Xbox Live Gold also offers access to online multiplayer games. But when Microsoft announced recently that free-to-play online games no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription, many wondered whether the service is still valuable. However, things turned for the better when Microsoft unveiled February’s roster of Games with Gold, which not only included heavy-hitter games but also increased its roster from four to five, with one title optimized for the Xbox Series X. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for March’s selection of Xbox Games with Gold.
When February’s Xbox Games with Gold were revealed, many believed Microsoft was finally stepping up its strategy by offering more quality games in its roster. Some even thought that the standard set by Microsoft last month would be the beginning of Xbox Live Gold’s step in the right direction. Unfortunately, when March’s games were revealed, many Xbox fans were once again disappointed, squashing all hopes that Microsoft is turning the service for the better.
One of the biggest disappointments in March’s Games with Gold is the lack of an Xbox Series X game, or at the very least, an Xbox One game optimized for the Xbox Series X. To be fair, full-fledged Xbox Series X games are still limited right now, given that the next-gen console was just released last November. However, it is inevitable for players to compare Xbox Live Gold with Sony’s PS Plus, which has been offering PS5 games since the console’s launch. It is a mystery why Microsoft decided to backpedal for the March 2021 free games, given that February included a total of five titles, including the Xbox Series X optimized version of Gears 5. The inconsistent variety of Xbox Games with Gold is definitely a huge step backward, especially now that more and more players are transitioning to the Xbox Series X/S.
Another thing that disappointed Xbox fans with March’s roster of free games is the quality of titles, especially compared to last month’s games. For the coming month, Xbox Live Gold subscribers would be getting Warface: Breakout, VALA: Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse, Metal Slug 3, and Port Royale 3. While there is nothing wrong with these games, most of them could be considered niche titles and pale compared to last month’s Games with Gold that includes Gears 5 and Resident Evil.
At the time of writing, the announcement video released by the official Xbox channel on YouTube has more dislikes than likes, reflecting how players feel about next month’s Games with Gold. It remains to be seen how Microsoft reacts to this backlash, especially since the company has just earned its fanbase’s trust again with February’s Games with Gold. Of course, the big question now is what Microsoft intends to do with April’s free games. Will it maintain the standard set by February’s Games with Gold? Or will Microsoft revert to its “quantity over quality approach” that resulted in Xbox fans questioning the value of Xbox Live Gold?
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