The Bigger Game – Dead by Daylight
Xbox Games with Gold Predictions
After the launch of the Xbox Series X this month, instead of offering a Series X (version) game on Games with Gold for the launch month (like PS5 did with Bugsnax), Microsoft instead opted to offer titles from their previous three generations including Aragami and Swimsanity for Xbox One, Lego Indiana Jones for Xbox 360, and Full Spectrum Warrior for original Xbox.
This seemed like an odd choice, as one would think Microsoft will opt to offer a newer and optimized title (even just the Xbox Series X version of a title) to coincide with the launch and give Series X owners some time to test out the specs of their new consoles.
We have some predictions as to what free Xbox Games with Gold titles will be offered for players for the upcoming month of December 2020. And while Mircosoft might go the same route as last month and not include a Series X version game, it seems more likely it will choose a new-gen inclusion and follow in Sony’s footsteps to show off next-gen framerates, load times, and visual fidelity.
Therefore, for next month we predict the bigger game on Games with Gold will be the Xbox Series X optimized version of Dead by Daylight.
Dead by Daylight first released back in 2016, and recently in 2020 has seen a huge resurgence of players after several game-improving updates.
It has been offered on PS Plus in the past in August 2018, and Microsoft has a history of including more well known PS Plus games in its own lineup a year or so later.
You can check out a list of Xbox Series X and optimized Xbox One games here for other possible inclusions next month if Microsoft decides to not go with Dead by Daylight specifically.
The Smaller Game – Stardew Valley
Xbox Games with Gold Predictions
For the smaller game next month, we predict it will be a better-known indie available on both Xbox Series X and Xbox One to appeal to both consoles owners, with a good fit being Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley is one of the most popular indie games of the last decade, first released back in 2016 and today available on numerous platforms including iOS, Android, and Nintendo Switch.
Something to consider as we move into the new year is in the past Microsoft has often offered an Xbox 360 title alongside the Xbox One headliner, and Stardew Valley is not offered on Xbox 360.
However, with the launch of its new console this month, it’s likely Microsoft soon might announce plans to no longer offer Xbox 360 titles (or by extension original Xbox titles) on Games with Gold.
June, July, August, and September 2020 all didn’t include any Xbox 360 games on their Games with Gold lineups.
Sony announced PS3 and PS Vita games would no longer be offered on PS Plus this year, and with the launch of the PS5, it looks like the format has changed to offering a PS5 (or PS5 version) title along with one or two cross-gen games as well.
Microsoft will likely adopt this trend too and only offer games from the Xbox One and Xbox Series X console generations.
Make sure to check back with Twinfinite in the next couple of weeks for the official announcement from Microsoft for what free games are offered on Xbox Games with Gold for December 2020.