Final Xbox Games with Gold for August 2023 as Microsoft ends program

In August 2023, Microsoft is making available two free games for Xbox Games with Gold and Game Pass subscribers.

Xbox Games with Gold for August / Image: Microsoft
Xbox Games with Gold for August / Image: Microsoft
  • Games with Gold has two new free titles for August 2023.
  • These are the final free games you’ll be able to download for free.
  • Microsoft will replace the Xbox Live Gold with the Xbox Game Pass Core on September 1.

Microsoft has revealed the last two Games with Gold program titles that members will receive in August 2023 as the company plans to replace the Xbox Live Gold subscription with the newly unveiled Xbox Game Pass Core. In the last rollout, the software giant will deliver $39.98 worth of games in the seventh month of the year, including Blue Fire and Inertial Drift.

Whether you have an On Xbox One or Xbox Series X (S), throughout August 2023, you will get Blue Fire ($19.99 ERP). And from August 16 through September 15, Inertial Drift ($19.99 ERP) will be available at no extra cost. You can also see the July 2023 games here.

The company originally started the Games with Gold program as part of a benefit of the Xbox Live Gold membership back in 2013, but now it’s being replaced by the Xbox Game Pass Core plan that includes different benefits. For example, the new plan will give you access to the multi-player online network and a selection of more than 25 games that you can play for free as long as you maintain the subscription active. 

The confirmed titles include Among Us, Descenders,  Dishonored 2, Doom Eternal, Fable Anniversary, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Forza Horizon 4, Gears 5, Grounded, Halo 5: Guardians, Halo Wars 2, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Human: Fall Flat, Inside, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Psychonauts 2, State of Decay 2, and The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited. The company will add more games in the coming months.

If you’re a current Live Gold subscriber, you will be transferred automatically to the Core plan on September 14, 2023.

If you want access to the most extensive catalog of games and access to the multiplayer network, it’s best to opt for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription with the new $16.99 monthly price. If you plan to bring your own games, the Xbox Game Core is for you at the same $9.99 per month as the Xbox Live Gold membership.

Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S

Xbox Series X is the next-generation console from Microsoft that features AMD’s Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures and 16GB of memory, offering 12 teraflops of processing power, allowing up to 4K resolution and up to 120fps gameplay. The Series X costs $499.99, and you can order it now at the Microsoft Store.

Microsoft also offers the smaller Xbox Series S alongside the Xbox Series X, a slightly less powerful console version targeted at 1080p and 1440p gaming. However, it plays the next generation of games and only costs $299.99. The console is available now, and you can order it at the Microsoft Store. If you cannot decide which one to buy, this guide will help you determine the best console.

The company now also offers a new model of the Xbox Series S in black and featuring 1TB of storage. The new console will be available in September 2023, and you can pre-order now from the Microsoft Store.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].