An era has officially come to an end. Xbox Live Gold has posted the final selection of free games before it bids farewell to the scene forever.

In case you somehow missed it, Xbox Live Gold, after a long twenty years, is finally shutting down and will no longer be available from September 1, 2023. In its place, Microsoft is introducing the Xbox Game Pass Core, which will be independent of the current console and Ultimate versions of Game Pass. The Core package will cost $9.99 per month and will include online multiplayer and access to the Game Pass library, which spans 25 titles. Those who want to access the full catalog will have to choose the pricier Console or Ultimate editions, which include the releases available on the first day, such as the upcoming Starfield. But you don’t have to make this decision yet. Xbox Live Gold is still running and has just dropped the last batch of free games.

Speaking of Starfield, check out the latest preview of the game below.

The August package consists of two games: Blue Fire and Inertial Drift. Both will be available between August 1 and 31, and reports suggest their combined value is $39.98. This isn’t exactly a selection that takes your breath away, but let me shed some light on what each game contains.

Blue Fire, an action-adventure platformer published by Graffiti Games, was released in 2021. Players “travel through the devastated world of Penumbra, where they encounter a variety of enemies, sharp 3D platform challenges, missions, collectibles, and much more.” I am personally a big fan of platformer games, but Blue Fire is not a game I have yet tried. However, the game can boast a number of challenging boss fights and Zelda-like aesthetics – and I really want to try it out.

On the other hand, there is Inertial Drift, developed by PQube Limited, and released in 2020. You probably won’t be surprised to find out that this is an arcade racing game. Inertial Drift, which is set in the retro future of the ’90s (yes, that’s a confusing phrase), “represents a whole new level in the arcade car racing genre – offering a driving experience that truly has no equal.

Source: GamingBible