Microsoft Announces Extension of Xbox Live 'Games with Gold'

Microsoft have announced that its Games with Gold programme will remain "an ongoing benefit" for all Xbox Live Gold members on Xbox 360.

Games with Gold, which was announced for a short duration during the E3 2013 for Xbox Live Gold members, will be extended with new gaming titles as a part of its "Week of Xbox Live," the company said on Xbox Wire.

The new titles will be available on the first and 16th every month. Since its announcement on 10 July, the company said that more than 120 million hours were played with Games with Gold titles. The games included in this programme are Assassin's Creed 2, Crackdown, Dead Rising 2, Fable 3, Defense Grid: The Awakening, DR2 prologue Case Zero, Magic 2013, Rainbow Six Vegas, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes and one of the most recent addition to the promotion, Halo 3.

Though Microsoft is gearing up for the release of its next-generation console Xbox One, which is confirmed for release on 22 November, the company has indicated that it will continue to support Xbox 360.

"If you look at Xbox 360 that platform [has] lasted for seven to eight years and it's going to go for another three years. It's incredibly profitable now in the tail," said Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing and strategy officer at Xbox, CVG reported.

"We are going to continue to invest in Xbox 360 and the two devices can work in concert. So it isn't just like the day we ship Xbox One, Xbox 360 won't work, we will continue to support it. In fact, we are going to ship over 100 new games on Xbox 360, so you will still be able to play your games, just not on the same exact box," he added.