For quite a long time now, the value of an Xbox Live Gold subscription has been questioned. Not only because Microsoft has decided to remove the need for an Xbox Live Gold subscription for access to free online multiplayer games, but also given the fact that the roster of free Games with Gold it offers is no longer exciting.
However, it is worth remembering that Xbox Live Gold players still have one more benefit that they can get out of the service: access to limited-time discounts on some of the biggest games available on Xbox consoles. Although the deals offered for Xbox Live Gold players are still a hit or miss, the games available right now for much lower prices have the potential of compensating for the decline of the service's other features.
RELATED: Xbox Free Games with Gold June 2021 Wish List
At the moment, there are over 40 games discounted for Xbox Live Gold players. While most of them aren't exactly triple-A titles, two games may spark players' interest, and these are Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Outriders. For the uninitiated, both Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Outriders retail for $59.99, but Xbox Live Gold players can snag Assassin's Creed Valhalla for $40.19 or 35% off its original price, while Outriders is discounted at $44.99 or 25% off.
Additionally, Xbox Live Gold players can also snag the Ultimate Edition of Assassin's Creed Valhalla for $80.39 (25% off) and Assassin's Creed Bundle, which contains Valhalla, Origins, and Odyssey, for $63.99 (60% off). It is worth noting that while the PS Plus also offers game discounts to its subscribers, it is not as frequent as Xbox Live Gold, putting Xbox players at a rare advantage over those on PlayStation consoles. Of course, should Microsoft continue to offer unique discounts on games of the same caliber as Outriders and Assassin's Creed, these deals could potentially increase the value of an Xbox Live Gold subscription, especially now that its worth is being put into question.
- Purchase Outriders for $44.99 (Xbox Live Gold only)
- Purchase Assassin's Creed Valhalla for $40.19 (Xbox Live Gold only)
- Purchase Assassin's Creed Valhalla Ultimate Edition for $80.39 (Xbox Live Gold only)
- Purchase Assassin's Creed Bundle for $63.99 (Xbox Live Gold only)
But why are Xbox players questioning the value of Xbox Live Gold? Apart from removing access to free-to-play online games as one of its benefits, players would only need to take one good look at the roster of free Games with Gold Microsoft has offered so far. For May, Xbox Live Gold subscribers can get Armello, Dungeons 3, LEGO Batman, and Tropico 4. Although LEGO Batman may appeal to players disappointed with the delay of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, the rest of the roster is pretty much nothing to write home about.
The rest of the games Microsoft has offered this year follows the same pattern: 2 unheard-of Xbox One games, 2 niche Xbox 360 games, and nothing for Xbox Series X/S players. However, one could argue that the Xbox Series X/S is new and still has limited games, so there is no way Microsoft could offer free games for those platforms. It is worth knowing that the PS5 was released around the same time as the Xbox Series X/S, and Sony is able to offer at least one PS5 game for PS Plus subscribers. Not to mention, now that the Xbox One belongs to the previous generation, why can't Microsoft offer better games for players who are still holding onto it.
Naturally, the answer to that is the Xbox Game Pass. It is no secret that Microsoft is pouring its resources into making Game Pass the next big service in gaming. While this may appear unfair to loyal subscribers of Xbox Live Gold, it appears that Deals with Gold could potentially increase its value should Microsoft remain consistent in offering unique discounts on big games.
MORE: One Popular Gaming Trend Could Save Xbox Free Games with Gold