Microsoft quietly discontinues Xbox Live Gold subscription

Microsoft will be launching its next generation gaming console, the Xbox Series X, sometime late in 2020. Ahead of the launch, the company has discontinued its Xbox One S and Xbox One S digital consoles. Now, the word is that the company has also discontinued its Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Microsoft, in a statement to True Achievements, confirmed that it was no longer selling the 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription plan. That said, customers can still subscribe for the 1-month Xbox Live Gold and 3-month Xbox Live Gold subscription plans. These subscription plans will be available for purchase only via the company’s online store, that is, the Microsoft Store.

Prior to the change, the one-month subscription plan was available for $10 ( ₹748 approximately), while the three-month subscription plan costed $25 ( ₹1,870 approximately) and the 12-month subscription plan was available for $60 ( ₹4,490 approximately).

"At this time, Xbox has decided to remove the 12 months Xbox Live Gold SKU from the Microsoft online Store. Customers can still sign up for a one month or three month Xbox Live Gold subscription online through the Microsoft Store,” a company spokesperson told the publication.

The company, however, did not specify the reason as to why it had discontinued the plan. But it is easy to speculate that Microsoft is planning to overhaul its online services ahead of the launch of the Xbox Series X and that it is planning to bring the Xbox Live Gold subscription functionality to its Xbox Game Pass subscription. This in turn would do away with the need for the users to opt for two different subscription options.

For now, it is difficult to say anything with certainty. Perhaps the company would share more details closer to the launch of the Xbox Series X.