This month is a big one for Xbox Live Gold members. Not only has Microsoft announced three free Xbox 360 titles instead of the usual two, they're getting the Xbox One in the mix too!
Xbox One Without Kinect Finally Announced For $399
In a blog post from Phil Spencer about the exciting news that they'll be dropping the Kinect from the Xbox One and offering it by itself in a $399 bundle, they also mentioned plans to expand the Games With Gold program. Here are the titles for June 2014.
Dark Souls - this is the big one this month. One of the best titles of the current platform generation, Dark Souls is hard, immersive, and more satisfying than nearly anything else out there. This is a tremendous free game and one you honestly should have had in your collection already, but you can start making up for it next month!
Games With Gold May 2014 Includes Dust And Saints Row 3
Charlie Murder - an action role-playing beat 'em up from Ska Studios (The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai) that lets you play as one of five members of a punk band who have to fight a demonic army raised by a gilted former band member. It's as ridiculous as it sounds and looks and sounds great. If you want a sidescroller this is the option for you.
Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition - a bonus title this month! This is the latest and greatest of the series, a game which brings the updates from the arcade version to home systems. It introduces new characters Yun and Yang and unlocks Evil Ryu and Oni so you can play them right away.
But wait- that's not all! Xbox One owners will get free games too, with a caveat. These are "subscription-based" free games, which means that they will work much the same as Sony's Playstation Plus free titles. As long as you're a member you can play them but as soon as you're not, they're locked. This is in contrast to the Xbox 360 titles, which are still yours forever to own and love, regardless of if you ever let your subscription lapse.
So with that disclaimed, the titles for Xbox One in June will be Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Halo: Spartan Assault. Smaller titles but hey, it's definitely something. They have also announced Deals With Gold for Xbox One starting in June, with unspecified discounts on Forza Motorsport 5, Ryse: Son of Rome, and others.
There, Microsoft, was that so hard? With this move they're finally fighting back against Sony's impressive Instant Game Collection, which has been pumping out tons of great free games for PS Plus subscribers month after month. Good for you, and good for all your subscribers.
