Microsoft may be more focused on its Xbox Game Pass service recently, but it still releases fresh Games with Gold titles every month. Typically, the Xbox free Games with Gold consist of two Xbox 360 titles and Xbox One games, with some rare exceptions. In any case, the Xbox free Games with Gold occasionally leak ahead of their official announcement, and while it’s possible that’s what’s happened with one of the October games, fans should keep their expectations in check.
Twitter user Nils Ahrensmeier found an image on Microsoft’s server of Hitman 3 with the Xbox Live Gold logo, leading to rumors online that the game could be made one of the free Xbox Games with Gold games for October 2021. And while that is certainly possible, Hitman 3 being a relatively new game makes it highly unlikely. In reality, this image is more likely referencing a game that will be part of the Free Play Days promotions that Xbox runs every weekend.
The Xbox Free Play Days let Xbox Live Gold subscribers play games for free for a limited time, with games rotated in and out every weekend. The art discovered by Nils Ahrensmeier looks like it’s more in line with games that are featured as Free Play Day titles, so perhaps Xbox Live Gold subscribers will still get to play Hitman 3 for free in the near future, even if they won’t get to keep the game for the long-term.
The Xbox free Games with Gold games this past year have been notably less impressive than previous years, with Microsoft funneling all the big games to Xbox Game Pass instead. Rumors from reliable sources have persisted that Microsoft is doing away with Xbox Live Gold when it acquires enough Xbox Game Pass subscribers, so it’s clear that the company is simply not all that interested in making the free Games with Gold worthwhile anymore.
With Microsoft’s lack of interest in bolstering its Games with Gold lineup, it seems very hard to believe that Hitman 3 would be one of the free Games with Gold for October 2021. After all, Hitman 3 launched just this past January and is one of the highest-rated new games released all year. It being made an Xbox Free Games with Gold game before it’s even a year old doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Whatever the Xbox free Games with Gold games for October 2021 are, fans should find out early next week. In the meantime, the Xbox free Games with Gold for September 2021 are still available to claim.
Source: Reddit
