Microsoft is removing Xbox 360 games from Games with Gold this fall. The news comes via emails sent out to subscribers over the weekend. The letter notes that Microsoft has “reached the limit of [its] ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalog.” Microsoft emphasized that this change will not affect games downloaded by the deadline. Any XB360 games that players redeem before October 1 will remain on their Xbox account, even if they cancel their Xbox Live Gold subscription. Microsoft will continue adding Xbox One titles every month as usual. We have reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalog; however, Games with Gold will continue to include exciting Xbox One titles and exclusive savings each month." Microsoft might be trying to get customers to upgrade to an Xbox One or Series X|S and push them to a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. The company started phasing out the Live branding last year when it renamed Xbox Live the “Xbox network.” However, the Xbox 360 is incompatible with Game Pass, so Microsoft couldn’t discontinue Live Gold. Fans don’t take kindly to having their legacy services shut down, as we saw from the blowback Sony received over shutting down the PlayStation 3 and PSP stores. Since Gold remains the only way for 360 owners to play online, Microsoft will likely keep it around for a while. Image credit: Tom Whitehead
