Xbox Live Gold: Why does Microsoft remove the 12 month subscription?

One of Microsoft's virtues is certainly the multitude of services offered to its users. For example, Xbox Game Pass subscriptions were incredibly successful as they exceeded 10 million subscribers, while active Xbox Live users approached 90 million during Microsoft's third financial quarter, which ended in March 2020. However, the company has confirmed that it wants to remove the 12-month Xbox Live Gold membership - a service that allows users to play online and gives the opportunity to download two to four games for free per month, including also discounts of up to 50% on Xbox One products in the Microsoft Store. Xbox Live Gold titles for July, for example, are WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship, Dunk Lords, Saints Row 2 and Juju.

The fact that it is no longer possible to purchase Xbox Live Gold memberships for 12 months, neither from the Microsoft Store, nor at many retailers, it could lead us to think that the long-term service would be mended in other forms in the future or, even, that the company's intention would have been to eliminate it gradually in conjunction with the launch of Xbox Series X.

A Microsoft spokesman told TrueAchievements: “At this time, Microsoft has decided to remove the 12-month Xbox Live Gold SKU from the Microsoft Online Store. Customers can still sign up for an Xbox Live Gold membership for a month or three months online through the Microsoft Store. " In addition, Microsoft started incorporating Xbox Live Gold with Xbox Game Pass last year, which offers access to over 100 console and PC games, standardizing services in the form of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, at cost of $ 14.99 / £ 10.99 per month.

Recently, the company said that it will launch the streaming service, Project xCloud, in September and will be accessible together with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no additional cost. Also, Phil Spencer informed us also about the intentions of the company to discontinue the production of its console Xbox One X and the Xbox One's version of the Digital – clarifying, however, that the Xbox One's player will be still produced for a long time. Further, in addition to Xbox X-Series, it seems that Microsoft will launch a second model less powerful in the next generation console. Probably, it will be called Xbox S-Series . Expect to learn more during the event dedicated to the Xbox Series X , 23 July, 2020.

the Xbox One is available on Amazon at this address . Buy this amazing bundle, which also includes 14 days Xbox Game Live Gold membership and 1 month of Xbox Game Pass. If you are only interested in the latter service, instead, you can buy on Amazon 3-month subscription, Game Pass a good offer.