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It’s officially the end of an era. Xbox Live Gold has dropped its final batch of games before it disappears into the great beyond.
In case you missed it, Xbox Live Gold is being shut down for good after 20 long years and will cease to exist as of 1 September. Instead, Microsoft are launching Xbox Game Pass Core, which will stand separate from the current Console and Ultimate editions of Game Pass. The Core tier will be priced at $9.99 and will include online multiplayer and access to a library of 25 Game Pass titles. If you want access to the whole catalogue, you’ll need to opt for the pricier Console or Ultimate editions. These tiers include day one releases, like the upcoming Starfield. You don’t have to make that choice just yet though. Xbox Live Gold is still alive and kicking and has just dropped its final batch of games.
Speaking of Starfield, take a look at the game’s latest trailer below.
The August drop consists of two games: Blue Fire and Inertial Drift. Both will be available from 1 to 31 August, and have a reported collective value of $39.98. It’s not particularly a line-up that’ll blow you off your feet, but allow me to dive into exactly what each game entails.
Published by Graffiti Games, Blue Fire is an action-adventure platformer, and was released back in 2021. Players will “travel through the perished world of Penumbra to explore unique areas filled with diverse enemies, sharp 3D platforming challenges, quests, collectibles, and more.” Personally, I’m a big fan of platformers but Blue Fire isn’t one I’ve yet gotten around to. The game does appear to boast several challenging boss fights and a Zelda-esque aesthetic - and I’m pretty keen to try it out.
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Secondly, we have Inertial Drift which was developed by PQube Limited and was published back in 2020. You likely won’t be shocked to discover that it’s an arcade racer. Set in a 90s retro future (a confusing combination of words), Inertial Drift “offers a whole new level of accessibility and challenge to the arcade racing genre - for a driving experience genuinely unlike anything you've played before.”