Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Deals

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best Xbox Live Gold deals for January 2023

Kelly Kaliszewski
By

While a subscription to Xbox Live is technically optional, gaming without it is missing so many core elements of the experience: multiplayer, free games, and more. So if you’re a proud owner of the Xbox 360, Xbox One, or the new Xbox Series X, you should definitely sign up for an Xbox Live Gold membership. Since it can be expensive, and to help you enjoy savings and keep your video game budget intact, we’ve scoured the web and rounded up all the best Xbox Live Gold sales in one place, including Xbox Live Gold 1-Month, Xbox Live Gold 3-Month, and Xbox Live Gold 6-Month subscriptions. You should also check out the 12-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which offers more benefits beyond Xbox Live Gold membership.

Best Xbox Live Gold deals

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month membership — $13, was $15

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate logo and a collage of featured games
Microsoft

Play brand new titles like Starfield on day one, when they launch, or access iconic titles from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, and much more. You can also play online, access online Xbox Live features, and get exclusive member discounts. This digital code offers 1-month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month membership — $38, was $45

Games on Xbox Game Pass.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

With this digital bundle you’ll get 3-months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to play and access the available library, whenever and however you want.

Related

What is Xbox Live Gold?

Xbox Live Gold is a subscription membership that is required if you want to play games online with Xbox One, Xbox 360, or Xbox Series X. Regularly, a subscription for Xbox Live Gold costs $10 per month or $60 per year. Xbox Live Gold also gives members access to additional benefits such as free games every month and discounts on selected digital games.

Whether you’re playing solo, with a single friend, or as a part of an online cooperative with a bunch of strangers, you need Xbox Live Gold to do it. Your subscription also gives you access to the party system and voice chat so you can communicate with your cohorts while you play.

Every month, Microsoft offers free games to Xbox Live Gold members through its Games with Gold program. These games are only available for a limited time (two weeks or one month) and can be redeemed via the website on your Xbox console. You can then download and keep the game for free. The good news about this feature is that if you let your subscription lapse, you get the game back when you renew your subscription, though you cannot play the game while the subscription is inactive. 

If you have an Xbox 360 and have games that you redeemed via Games with Gold, you don’t have to worry about losing those games if you decide to upgrade to an Xbox One. Microsoft has guaranteed that all Xbox 360 games that have been released through Games with Gold will be playable on the Xbox One via backward compatibility.

Your Xbox Live Gold membership also includes Deals with Gold, which gives subscribers exclusive deals on digital Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Xbox Series X games. The deals change every week, and you can view the current deals on the Deals with Gold website. If you purchase a game through Deals with Gold, it is yours to keep, even if your subscription lapses or expires.

It should be noted that Xbox Live Gold is different than Xbox Live Silver (now called Xbox Live Free). The free version has limited features that allow you to create a friends list, create a profile and Gamertag, preview games, stream video content from the Zune network, download games and add-ons from the Xbox Live Marketplace, send and receive messages with other Xbox Live users as text or voice, and make video calls to friends using Video Kinect (if you own a Kinect). The glaring difference between the two services other than the price is that you cannot play online with Xbox Live Free.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kelly Kaliszewski
Kelly Kaliszewski
Content Writer
Kelly's work has appeared in blogs and on websites. She enjoys writing about all things kitchen and food. When she's not…
Best gaming console deals: cheapest prices on PS5, Xbox S and X and Switch
father and son playing video games

Picking a console is a big decision. They're not cheap, so unless gaming is your passion, you probably don't want to spend the cash to grab all three of the major ones. That's why we've collected the best prices on every version of the three major consoles. Below you'll find Xbox Series S and X deals, PlayStation 5 deals, and Nintendo Switch deals (on all the various versions). We've listed the best prices at the major retailers, and any deals we could find among them. Once you've grabbed your console, check out the best video games deals to go along with them.
Xbox Series S deals -- starting at $280

The Xbox Series S is the less powerful but cheaper option out of the newest generation Xbox line. When comparing the Xbox Series S versus the Xbox Series X, the Series S takes a hit in all the component categories. That means it's not quite as fast. But if you're not hung up on getting the optimal performance out of your system, you'll actually notice very few differences. The two biggest ones are the Series S's inability to play in 8K, and its lack of a disc drive. Most people don't even have 8K TVs, so that shouldn't be an issue. If you're alright with downloading all of your games straight to the console's memory (and you have a separate DVD or Blu-Ray player), the Series S will work fine. It's quite a bit smaller anyway, and easier to fit on a shelf.

Read more
Best gaming chair deals: Save on Alienware, Razer, and more
A Razer Iskur X gaming chair sets by a video game setup.

If you’re one of those gamers who takes on the best PC games for hours at a time, you’re going to need the right chair for doing so. Gaming chairs are designed for extended sitting sessions, and they can spell the difference between enjoying and hating your gaming experience. They sometimes come in at a higher prices than standard office chairs, but they make a worthy investment, and right now they’re a great way to pocket some savings. There are quite a few gaming chair deals taking place right now, and we’ve rounded them all up to make your gaming experience as affordable as it is comfortable.
GTRACING Gaming Chair  — $100, was $250

The GTRACING Gaming Chair is a highly adjustable gaming chair with both footrest and headrest options available. It is designed for people up to 6.2 feet tall, weighing up to 330 pounds. The arms and seat are height adjustable, the headrest and lumbar support can be moved to your liking, and the chair has fixed-position reclining (with a footrest) from 90 to 170 degrees. All of the parts are made of a comfortable foam with a waterproof exterior. There are multiple color variations available, but at the time of this writing only the red version (pictured above) has a sale price this large.

Read more
Best Xbox Series X and Series S deals: discounts and bundles
Microsoft Xbox Series X and Series S game consoles.

The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are much more readily in stock than they were back in November 2020 when they first launched. That also means there are more deals around so you can save big on your new console purchase. Much like PlayStation deals, it's worth shopping around to see how you could save on your precious gaming investment. That's why we've picked out some of the best Xbox Series X and Series S deals below. The deals include discounts on consoles as well as essential accessories. Take a look below to see how you could save.
Xbox Core Wireless Controller -- $57, was $65

Whichever Xbox you buy, you get a standard controller but how about having one that shows off some of your personality? Or one that means you can play games on the couch with your buddies or family. That's where the Xbox Core Wireless Controller is so useful. Available in many different colors, you get all the benefits of an ergonomic design with sculpted surfaces and refined geometry for enhanced comfort. Up to 40 hours of battery life is convenient while it connects via Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth so you can use it with your PC, phone or tablet too.

Read more