Portal 2 will serve as the final Xbox 360 title offered free through Microsoft’s Games with Gold program. Microsoft announced that the program will cease including Xbox 360 games starting October 1st, citing that the company has "reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue." This change marks the conclusion of a nearly decade-long initiative that provided free Xbox 360 titles to Xbox Live Gold subscribers.
The Games with Gold program is a monthly benefit for subscribers of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft selects free games each month which subscribers can download and retain permanently. All Xbox 360 titles available through the program are playable on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One consoles via backward compatibility. The decision to stop adding Xbox 360 games is attributed to the completion of Microsoft's backward compatibility program. While the program is ending for new Xbox 360 additions, existing Xbox 360 titles previously offered through Games with Gold remain playable for subscribers who claimed them.
September 2022 Games with Gold Lineup
September 2022 marks the final month that Xbox 360 games will be part of the Games with Gold catalog. The lineup for the month includes both Xbox One and Xbox 360 titles, with specific availability windows for each game.
Available Xbox 360 Titles
- Portal 2 (September 16 - September 30): Valve’s classic puzzle-platformer is the final Xbox 360 game to be offered. Released in 2011, the game features a campaign roughly double the length of its predecessor, along with a separate cooperative campaign. The game requires players to utilize portal technology to solve puzzles within a sinister laboratory setting.
- Thrillville (September 1 - September 15): An original Xbox title that was among the last batch of games made backward compatible in November 2015. It is offered as part of the final Xbox 360 selection rotation.
Available Xbox One Titles
- Gods Will Fall (September 1 - September 30): An action game released in 2021. Players assume the role of Celtic warriors fighting against gods controlling the world. The game offers a roguelike experience with challenging combat.
- Double Kick Heroes (September 16 - October 15): A side-scrolling rhythm action game where players use musical instruments as weapons to fight zombies. The game features 24 levels, heavy metal music, licensed tracks, and a level editor.
Historical Context of Portal in Games with Gold
Portal 2 is not the first title in the franchise to be offered through the program. In June 2019, Portal: Still Alive was made available to subscribers. Portal: Still Alive, released in 2008, includes the original Portal game plus 14 additional bonus puzzles and developer commentary. Both Portal: Still Alive and Portal 2 are backward compatible, allowing Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S users to play them.
Future of Games with Gold
Starting in October, Games with Gold will exclusively offer Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S titles. The program continues to require an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to access the free monthly games. While the specific future lineup has not been detailed, the removal of Xbox 360 games reflects the completion of the backward compatibility initiative that began in 2015.
Conclusion
The inclusion of Portal 2 in the September 2022 Games with Gold lineup represents the end of an era for Xbox 360 titles within the program. Microsoft has reached the limit of available Xbox 360 games for the service due to the conclusion of the backward compatibility program. Subscribers have until September 30, 2022, to claim Portal 2, after which the program will transition solely to current-generation Xbox titles.