It has been two years since Microsoft launched Games With Gold; their Xbox counterpart to Sony’s PlayStation Plus program that lets users with a premium membership receive free games every month.
To celebrate this anniversary, Microsoft is giving away four games to Gold members; two for Xbox One and two for Xbox 360.
Xbox One owners can look forward to receiving Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and So Many Me. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag will be available for the entirety of July and So Many Me will be available from July 16.
Whilst Xbox 360 users will be able to get a hold of Plants vs. Zombies and Gears of War 3. The releases will be staggered, with Plants vs. Zombies available from July 1, and Gears Of War 3 available from July 16.
Although Games With Gold has been running for two years, the service has only included Xbox One games since last June. So in addition to the bumper pack of free games available this month, Microsoft has also announced that from now on they will offer two free Xbox One games every month rather than just one.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is arguably the highlight of this months offering. The game is set during the golden age of piracy and is most loved for its vast open world and the depth of the naval combat. And even though it is two years old it is still considered one of the best games in the Assassin’s Creed series. I imagine being able to role play as a pirate AND an assassin in the same game had a much wider appeal than expected.
There hasn’t been any word on what future Games With Gold offerings will contain, but judging from past releases, they will likely be a majority of independent and smaller games mixed with a sprinkling of triple-A titles. But considering these games are free, I doubt anyone is going to complain.
