Xbox 'Games with Gold' August 2017 lineup: Bayonetta and more

It's that time of the month again — Microsoft has taken the wraps off the games that will be available under its 'Games with Gold' program. The August 2017 lineup will be comprised of four titles total, all of them for the Xbox One with two that also support the older Xbox 360 console. Availability will be staggered throughout the month, in some cases persisting through mid-September.

If you're an Xbox One owner, the August lineup will represent your first chance to play the game 'Slime Rancher' on the latest-gen console. This open-world farming simulation will, as the name suggests, involve farming, only you'll be dealing with adorable slimy creatures rather than anything plant-based. The game would otherwise be priced at $19.99 USD — it'll be available starting on August 1 and running through August 31.

Joining that title will be 'Trial Fusion,' another $19.99 USD game (if not acquired through Games with Gold) for the Xbox One. This particular game involves stunt racing, and will be available starting August 16 and running through September 15. Joining that is a title for both the Xbox One and Xbox 360, Bayonetta, which is otherwise priced at $19.99 USD. This action game puts gamers in the shoes of a magical witch who goes to battle.

Bayonetta will only be available from August 1 to August 15. Finally, the lineup will include another Xbox One / Xbox 360 offering: Red Faction: Armageddon. This is the costliest game on the list with a current retail price of $29.99 USD; it involves saving Mars from a newly (and accidentally) unleashed evil that threatens to destroy the Red Planet.

Games with Gold, for those unfamiliar, is Microsoft's alternative to Sony's free PlayStation Plus games. You must be an Xbox Live Gold subscriber to get the free games, though; cost for that subscription varies depending on which plan you get. The single-month plan is priced the highest (on a per-month basis, that is) at $9.99/month, whereas the 3-month option is cheaper (again, when looked at monthly) at $24.99 total. The 12-month plan is the best deal, though, with a total price tag of $59.99 USD.

SOURCE: Xbox News