Games With Gold celebrating 3 years

If you had told me Games With Gold will be celebrating 3 years this June I would not have believed you. But it is, and that is shocking. Over the last 3 years, we have got some excellent games on Xbox One and Xbox 360. Some I owned previously, and others were new to me. However, when a big AAA game wasn’t laying around, I always had something to occupy my time.

The games have not always been great. In fact, a few are down right terrible. I now spend most of my buying decision time contemplating how soon “x” title might be available as a Games With Gold. I’m still holding out for your Zoo Tycoon!

This really has been a great addition to the Xbox Life program, and yearly memberships are now desirable by all gamers, whether they play competitively online or not. With Sony doing a very similar thing with PS+, it really is a great time to be a gamer.

Things will change in June for Games With Gold. While we will still get our 2 standard Xbox One titles and 2 standard Xbox 360 titles, the 360 games we get in June – perhaps going forward as well! – will also be backwards compatible, making the service even more valuable for Xbox One owners.

I have included the full press release below. Are you ready for a slight change to Games with Gold?

In June, Games with Gold is having its third birthday. To celebrate there will be presents for everyone! We’ve got a special lineup to open up the summer: Xbox One will get two dedicated titles, and two Xbox 360 titles, as well, through Xbox One Backward Compatibility, for a total of four completely free titles thanks to Games with Gold. Xbox 360 gamers, of course, also get access to the latter two titles.

Available only for a limited time, June’s diverse lineup of Xbox One games will be led by Goat Simulator – available June 1 to 30 – showing off next-gen goat simulation technology as gamers crash through the world as a goat, do some epic tongue grabs and rack up points for destroying everything they see. Shifting gears to some fast-paced motor action, The Crew – available June 16 to July 16 – offers a revolutionary, action-driving open-world game with a richly detailed recreation of the United States. On Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Backward Compatibility, Super Meat Boy – available June 1 to 15 – will test gamers’ platforming skills with over 300 levels, epic boss fights and tons of unlockable secrets, while XCOM Enemy Unknown – available June 16 to 30 – will offer the complete turn-based strategy package in a sci-fi experience featuring custom-equipped troops and countless upgrades.

We’re excited to celebrate our birthday in June, and we’re even more excited to continually give away amazing free games to our Xbox Live Gold members. Check out the full details on our Games with Gold program, and make sure you get in on the action!