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Games with Gold dips into Guacamelee on Xbox One
In July, Xbox Live members across Xbox One and Xbox 360 get a round of new, free games to download: Xbox One Gold members get Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition, replacing June's Halo: Spartan Assault. Max: The Curse of Brotherhood will carry over to also be free in July on Xbox One. On Xbox 360, Golders get Gotham City Imposters from July 1 - 15. Then from July 16 - 31, Gold members can snag Battleblock Theater for free. [Image: Microsoft]
PSA: Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition, Charlie Murder free for Gold members now
Xbox Live Gold members with Xbox 360s can now grab Charlie Murder and Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition at no additional cost until August. For those who get lost in the various iterations of Street Fighter 4, Super Arcade would be the edition before this year's Ultra, which is available now as DLC and next month at retail. Probably worth mentioning in the same breath is that Xbox One owners with Gold can also pick up Max: Curse of the Brotherhood and twin-stick shooter Halo: Spartan Assault right now too.
You can queue up June's Xbox One freebies for download now
Xbox One owners that have waited since Friday's announcement of this June's Games with Gold freebies to click that shiny download button are now able to do so. This month's free games, available only to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, are Max: Curse of the Brotherhood and twin-stick shooter Halo: Spartan Assault. Microsoft announced last month that June would be its newest home console's first time dancing with the both the Games with Gold and Deals with Gold programs. The month's discounted Xbox One games are NBA 2K14 and Call of Duty: Ghosts, which join a handful of sales on Xbox 360, including Saints Row 4 and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Additionally, Xbox One players can pick up Crimson Dragon for half-off ($10). Xbox 360 owners will need to wait until June 16 for Charlie Murder and Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition, while Dark Souls is available as a freebie now and until June 15. [Image: Press Play]
Games with Gold doles out Xbox One freebies in June
Microsoft's Games with Gold program will give away five games to Xbox Live Gold members in June, including its first free offerings for the Xbox One. Xbox One subscribers will receive free copies of Press Play's 2.5D platformer Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and 343 Industries and Vanguard Entertainment's twin-stick shooter Halo: Spartan Assault in June, marking the one-year anniversary of the Games with Gold program. Xbox 360 owners, meanwhile, can expect to see Ska Studios' co-op XBLA brawler Charlie Murder, From Software's Dark Souls, and Capcom's Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition throughout the month. Availability dates for next month's featured games have not been announced. [Image: Microsoft]
Saints Row: The Third now free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers
The Xbox 360 version of Volition's open-world mayhem simulator Saints Row: The Third is currently free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers as part of the service's ongoing Games with Gold promotion. Saints Row: The Third marked a sharp turn for the Saints Row franchise, transforming a once-straightforward crime drama series into a full-blown parody of the genre. The series would later reach new heights of ridiculousness in Saints Row 4, which we named as one of our favorite games of 2013. Microsoft recently expanded its Games with Gold program, pledging to release free Xbox One games for subscribers starting next month. [Image: Volition]
Xbox One Deals, Games with Gold launch in June
Microsoft's Games with Gold program will hit Xbox One in June, offering Xbox Live Gold members free games each month, starting with Max: Curse of the Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault. Games with Gold is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Xbox 360 by offering Gold users an extra free game in June: Dark Souls, Charlie Murder and the bonus game, Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition. One Gold membership grants users the free games on both Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Free games on Xbox One are available to active Gold members only. Stop your Xbox Live Gold subscription and lose the free games you've downloaded. Deals with Gold, which offers discounts on games each month for Gold members, also launches on Xbox One in June. First on sale in June is Ryse: Son of Rome and Forza Motorsport 5, plus a few "surprises," Microsoft says. Xbox One is getting a new feature, the virtual VIP room, which features free games, monthly deals and "other great benefits." This is exclusive to Gold members (not Goldmembers) as well. [Image: Microsoft]
May Games With Gold: Dust: An Elysian Tail, Saints Row The Third
Microsoft's Games With Gold promotion rolls on, bringing two new, free games to Xbox Live Gold subscribers during the month of May. The first game, according to a new blog entry from Xbox figurehead Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, will be Dust: An Elysian Tail, which will be available from May 1 to May 15 for gratis download. Our review knocked Dust: An Elyisan Tail for doing little to innovate as a platform-action game, but said the game "does manage to look and play beautifully throughout." From May 16 to May 31, Xbox Live Gold subscribers will be able to download Saints Row The Third at no cost. Our review of Volition's over-the-top open world action hit awarded the game four and a half stars, and pointed out that Saints Row The Third genuinely feels like a labor of love from its creators, that offers a stunning number of things to do and wacky, entertaining sights to see. Like all Games With Gold offerings, these two games will be available for free download to anyone with a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and a functional connection to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Once downloaded, they become yours to keep, whether you renew your Xbox Live Gold subscription or not. [Image: Deep Silver/Humble Hearts]
Deadlight now free for Xbox Live Gold members
As promised, the Tequila Works-developed survival game, Deadlight, is the latest freebie for Xbox Live Gold members. The Xbox 360 game – regularly priced at $15 – will remain free until April 30. In her review of Deadlight, Joystiq's Jess Conditt said the game "shines in its detailed world-building," though its gameplay "fails to live up to the standard" set by the game's "glorious" art direction. The Xbox Live Games with Gold program offers two free titles per month to Live subscribers. Earlier this month users were offered a free copy of Hitman: Absolution. Unlike the program's PlayStation counterpart, players can continue to enjoy any games they have downloaded if their Live subscription lapses. [Image: Tequila Works]
Deadlight, Hitman Absolution join gratis Games With Gold in April
Whether you'd prefer to gingerly hop your way through the decrepit ruins of humanity or dispatch targets with the cold, remorseless professionalism of a trained killer, Microsoft's Games With Gold promotion has something for you. Come April 1, Hitman: Absolution will be available as a free download for all Xbox Live Gold members. Our review awarded Hitman: Absolution 4 of 5 stars, and said that while it has minor flaws, the grim gameplay and glee of assassinating a difficult target overrides any technical issues. Hitman: Absolution will only be available for free until April 16, at which time it will be replaced by Deadlight. This post-apocalyptic platformer, developed by Tequila Works, received 3 of 5 stars in our review. While Jess found certain gameplay elements frustrating, she fell for Deadlight's art design and meticulous world building, and enjoyed the experience overall. As with all Games With Gold offerings, the only requisite for downloading the above games is an active Xbox Live Gold membership. Full details on how to enroll in Xbox Live Gold can be found on the Xbox website. [Image: Square Enix]
PSA: Dungeon Defenders is free on Xbox Live
Those itching to cast spells, hack away at enemies and level up will be happy to learn that co-op action RPG Dungeon Defenders is free on Xbox Live for Gold subscribers through the end of the month, March 31. The Trendy Entertainment-developed tower defense game took the place of Civilization Revolution in this month's Games with Gold program offerings, first launching on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 in October 2011 and receiving four DLC packs in the time since. Microsoft's Phil Spencer recently addressed concerns related to the Games with Gold program and the comparisons to Sony's PlayStation Plus program that it frequently receives. Spencer said the business for Microsoft's two-free-games-per-month service is "fundamentally different" from PS Plus, and stressed that players are able to keep the free games they download after their Xbox Live premium subscriptions run out. Trendy Entertainment announced a sequel to Dungeon Defenders in March 2013, which is still scheduled to launch this spring, according to the game's website. The developer also revealed cross-platform online shooter Monster Madness Online in December. [Image: Trendy Entertainment]
Microsoft's Phil Spencer responds to Games with Gold concerns
Microsoft's Phil Spencer is getting more involved with what franchises feature in Games with Gold, but the Xbox executive downplayed comparisons with Sony's PlayStation Plus service. Polygon reports that at his SXSW panel, Spencer reiterated there's no restraint over playing games given away by the Xbox service when a Gold subscription ends. Responding to feedback that Games with Gold offerings are often older than Plus games, Spencer told the SXSW audience, "One of our issues with Games with Gold - not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe. "And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a - you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it." Microsoft launched Games with Gold last summer to provide Gold subscribers with two free Xbox 360 games each month, and the program is due on Xbox One sometime this year. However, users have drawn inevitable comparisons to greater number of games offered on Plus, and how they're often fairly new releases such as Tomb Raider on PS3 this month. "That said," Spencer continued, "I have been sitting down monthly now with that team - some of the earlier months were already programmed - and playing a more active role in picking franchises that show up in Games with Gold, and I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there." [Image: Microsoft]
Civilization Revolution, Dungeon Defenders free on Xbox Live Gold in March
Xbox spokesperson Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has revealed the next two games to join the slate of free titles offered to Xbox Live Gold members: console strategy hit Civilization Revolution and co-op action-RPG Dungeon Defenders. Civilization Revolution will shed its standard $30 price point on March 1, and will remain free to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers until March 15. Then, on March 16, Dungeon Defenders will take its place as the service's gratis offering. Like previous free games, both Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders will be yours to keep once downloaded, even if you let your Xbox Live Gold subscription lapse. However, you only have two weeks to initiate the free download, after which time these games will revert to their original prices. [Image: Trendy Entertainment]
Toy Soldiers: Cold War, Dead Island free for Xbox Live Gold members in February
Microsoft's Major Nelson has announced next month's lineup of free games for Xbox Live Gold members, revealing that subscribers can expect to receive free copies of Toy Soldiers: Cold War and Dead Island in February. Signal Studios' Xbox Live Arcade strategy game Toy Soldiers: Cold War includes a series of tower defense-styled battles featuring miniature foot soldiers and combat vehicles. Dead Island, a 2011 retail release from Techland, is a first-person action game that challenges players to survive a zombie invasion at an island resort, with help from friends via online cooperative play. As with previous Games With Gold program releases, both Dead Island and Toy Soldiers: Cold War are free for users to keep once they are downloaded, even after associated Xbox Live Gold memberships expire. New games are added to the service on the 1st and 16th of each month.
January Games with Gold: Sleeping Dogs, Lara Croft guarding the light
Microsoft is kicking off the new year with two more free games for Xbox Live Gold members via the Games with Gold program. First up is the kung fu-heavy crime game, Sleeping Dogs, which will be available from January 1 through January 15. Closing out the month will be the excellent puzzle action game, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which will be free from January 15 through January 31.
Xbox Live sale discounts Batman, Assassin's Creed season passes
Today's daily deal in Microsoft's end-of-the-year Xbox sale features discounts on season passes for five games. Each respective season pass offers players bonus content in the form of character skins, challenge stages and other DLC. The season passes on sale are: Batman: Arkham Origins at 30 percent off ($13.99), Assassins Creed 4: Black Flag at 25 percent off ($14.99), half-off for both Metro: Last Light ($7.49) and Injustice: Gods Among Us ($7.49) as well as Saints Row 4 for 30 percent off ($6.99). The season passes join a number of other sales that end tomorrow, such as Killer is Dead and Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate for $13.20 each and Grand Theft Auto 5 for $40.20.
December Games with Gold freebies are Gears of War, Shoot Many Robots
Microsoft's Games with Gold program closes out 2013 with muscly shooter Gears of War (nope, no numbers at the end of that) and co-op run-and-gunner Shoot Many Robots. That means Gold members on Xbox 360 can download Gears of War for free between the 1st and 15th of December, then they can disembark the Cole Train and start to Shoot Many Robots on December 16, which stays free until the end of the year. Microsoft plans to continue the Games with Gold program on Xbox 360 as an "ongoing benefit," and is extending it to the Xbox One in 2014 on a monthly basis.
Xbox Live Gold members to get free Xbox One games monthly in 2014
Microsoft announced today that Xbox Live Gold members will receive free access to select Xbox One games on a monthly basis starting in 2014. The announcement expands Microsoft's current Games With Gold program, which gives XBL Gold subscribers free copies of featured Xbox Live Arcade and Games on Demand titles monthly. Originally launched as a limited-time promotion, Games With Gold has since been extended indefinitely as an "ongoing benefit" for Xbox Live Gold members. No further details regarding the program's Xbox One expansion were announced, though Microsoft notes that more information will be available in 2014.
November adds Iron Brigade, World of Keflings to free Xbox Live Gold games
The next additions to Games With Gold promotion have been revealed as eclectic tower defense shooter Iron Brigade, and the whimsical city-building game World of Keflings. According to Xbox spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, World of Keflings will make its Xbox Live debut on November 1. While normally the game features a $10 price tag, anyone with an Xbox Live Gold subscription will be able to download it for free until the end of November. Iron Brigade joins World of Keflings on November 16, and will likewise be a free download for the remainder of that month. As with all Games With Gold additions, once you've download either of these games, they're yours to keep - unless you delete them from your hard drive. If this occurs while the game is still a part of the Games With Gold promotion you can simple re-download the data, but if you wait until after the promo has expired your game is gone forever. These two additions mark the second to last month of Microsoft's promotion. As the Games With Gold FAQ notes, "two free game downloads will be available monthly, starting on the 1st and the 16th of every month from July through December 2013."
Games with Gold program will remain ongoing for Xbox 360
The Xbox Live "Games with Gold" program, which has been dropping a new free game every first and fifteenth of the month, will stick around longer than originally intended. Announced as a "limited-time program," the program will remain an "ongoing benefit" for Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox 360. Halo 3 is the latest game available for gratis through the program. Download it now and finish the fight from 2007.
PSA: Halo 3 deployed on Xbox Live Games with Gold, available now
Halo 3 is available now on Xbox Live Games with Gold, meaning Gold members can download the game for free until the end of the month. If you've yet to finish the fight (really?), or you just want to finish it all over again, now's the time, Chief.
