June is shaping up to be a big month for the Xbox One, as not only will the console receive a Kinect-less price cut, but Microsoft’s Games With Gold promotion will finally launch for the console as well. The program, which issues two free games every month to Xbox 360 owners with Xbox Gold, has been active since last July.
Beginning next month, Xbox One owners will be able to download both Press Play’s Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault, the top-down third person shooter based around Microsoft’s flagship franchise. The catch with the program coming to the Xbox One, though, is that in order to have continued access to these titles, you need to have an active Xbox Live Gold account. This is, of course, similar to how Sony runs their popular PlayStation Plus service.
The program will also continue on the Xbox 360 for the foreseeable future, as the titles coming next month include Dark Souls, Charlie Murder and a surprise bonus game, Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.
In addition to the free titles that come with Games With Gold, Microsoft will also launch the Deals With Gold program, that will offer significant discounts on select titles. Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son Of Rome and “a few other surprises” will be among the first games offered in the program and could see discounts ranging anywhere from 50-75% off.
This, combined with the release of the Kinect-less version of the Xbox One, represent huge steps for Microsoft in order to get back into the console battle with Sony. This is easily the best month for the Games With Gold promotion and if the company can continue offering exciting titles such as Max and Dark Souls, this could become a huge reason for owners to keep their Xbox Live Gold accounts.
Tell us, what do you think of next month’s Games With Gold offerings? Sound off below!