Portal 2 will serve as the final Xbox 360 title offered through Microsoft’s Games with Gold program, marking the conclusion of a nearly decade-long initiative to provide free games from the legacy console library. Microsoft confirmed the change in July 2022, notifying subscribers that the program would cease including Xbox 360 titles starting October 1, 2022. The decision stems from the company reaching the limit of its ability to add Xbox 360 games to the catalog, coinciding with the halt of the Xbox backward compatibility program.
The Games with Gold program provides monthly free games to subscribers of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Since its inception in 2013, the program has offered more than 200 Xbox 360 titles. Microsoft hand-picks these games each month, allowing subscribers to download and keep them permanently. All Xbox 360 titles offered through the program are playable on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles.
The Final Xbox 360 Title: Portal 2
Valve’s Portal 2 is the designated final Xbox 360 game for the service. The classic puzzle-platformer was originally released in 2011 and was previously added to Games with Gold in 2019. For September 2022, Portal 2 became available for download on September 16 and remained free through September 30. Following this period, no further Xbox 360 titles were scheduled for the program.
Portal 2 is widely considered one of the best games of its era. The sequel expanded on the foundation of the original Portal, featuring a campaign roughly double the length and introducing new mechanics. The game includes a separate cooperative campaign playable with a friend. Microsoft described the selection of Portal 2 as a fitting end to the program, given the game's classic status and its release more than a decade prior.
Program Evolution and Availability
Beginning in October 2022, Games with Gold stopped including Xbox 360 titles entirely. The program continued to offer free Xbox One games. Microsoft stated that the company had "reached the limit of our ability to bring Xbox 360 games to the catalogue." This limitation is directly tied to the conclusion of the Xbox backward compatibility program.
Subscribers who claimed Xbox 360 games during their availability windows retain permanent access to those titles. Even if an Xbox Live Gold subscription lapses, users can continue to play and redownload previously redeemed Games with Gold titles, including Xbox 360 games. This ensures the legacy of the program remains accessible to active claimants.
September 2022 Games with Gold Lineup
Portal 2 was part of a broader lineup of free games offered in September 2022. The full list of titles available during that month included:
- Gods Will Fall: Available from September 1 to September 30.
- Thrillville: Available from September 1 to September 15.
- Portal 2: Available from September 16 to September 30.
- Double Kick Heroes: Available from September 16 to October 15.
These titles were available to Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The availability windows for these games are specific; for example, Thrillville was only free for the first half of September, while Double Kick Heroes was available for the second half of September and the first half of October.
Historical Context of Games with Gold
The Games with Gold program launched in 2013, providing Xbox Live Gold subscribers with free Xbox 360 games. In 2014, Microsoft extended the program to include Xbox One titles. Over the years, the program has offered a rotating selection of games across both platforms. Xbox 360 titles offered through the program have been backward compatible with Xbox One and newer consoles, allowing a seamless experience for players on modern hardware.
The program has maintained a subscription price of $60 per year for much of its duration, despite previous threats of price increases. The value proposition included access to more than 200 free games over the lifespan of the Xbox 360 portion of the program.
Future of the Program
With the removal of Xbox 360 titles, Games with Gold shifted its focus solely to Xbox One games. These games are delivered through backward compatibility or Smart Delivery on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X. The program continues to operate alongside Xbox Game Pass, which offers a larger library of games for a monthly fee.
The end of Xbox 360 freebies represents a shift in Microsoft's strategy regarding legacy content. While the hardware for the Xbox 360 was discontinued in 2016, the software support through Games with Gold persisted until late 2022. The decision to end the inclusion of these titles reflects the finite nature of the backward compatibility initiative and the availability of legacy titles in the current market.
Conclusion
The selection of Portal 2 as the final Xbox 360 game in the Games with Gold program signals the end of a significant era for Xbox subscribers. Since 2013, the program has distributed hundreds of free games from the Xbox 360 library, contributing to the value of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. While the program no longer adds Xbox 360 titles, existing claimants retain permanent access to their libraries. The program continues forward with a focus on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S titles.