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Microsoft unveils its free Xbox 360 games for April

In April you'll get to shoot people, then shoot zombies.

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Microsoft has unveiled the two games it will be giving away for free in April as part of its Games with Gold program for active Xbox Live Gold subscribers.

For the first half of the month you'll be able to download Hitman: Absolution, IO Interactive's attempt at resurrecting Agent 47. It might not be as celebrated as fan-favourite Hitman: Blood Money, but the most recent adventure of arguably gaming's baldest hero was well-received by critics: GameSpot awarded the game a score of 7.5 upon its release.

From April 16, until the end of the month, Microsoft will be offering up Deadlight, Tequila Works' zombie adventure set across a beautiful 2D landscape.

The two games follow on from March's offerings, Civilization Revolution and Dungeon Defenders.

But what about free Xbox One titles as part of Games with Gold? Phil Spencer, the previous boss of Microsoft Games Studios who emerged from an executive cocoon today as the new Head of Xbox, said at the start of February that we would hear news about that soon. It's almost April, Phil!

Meanwhile, over in the blue corner, Sony has announced that PlayStation Plus will be dishing out Mercenary Kings, Batman: Arkham City, Stealth Inc, A Clone in the Dark, Castle of Illusion, Velocity Ultra, and Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD in April.

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VegasAceVII

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Shadow Complex is a great game. I'm glad it is free now.

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TM261155AT

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The first Hitman game I played so many challenges great fun, but I do wish they would release a Grand Theft Auto or something like that. But anyway this is the best game they have released.. Its a shame I already brought the game but I going to download it anyway.

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DoogyDonDoogy

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<< LINK REMOVED >> *bought

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Darkfall_05

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>* spelin nɑtsi :)

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Red_Frog

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Deadlight looks pretty cool.


I recall playing something like the first 30 seconds or so of Hitman 2, somebody gave it to me free and it was so bad I've never touched another Hitman game because of it. I've been pleasantly surprised by GWG games before that I thought would stink but my expectations here really are rock bottom, hopefully it'll give me another surprise.

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jark888

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Hitman Absolution is the first free game I recognized that's available on both PS Plus and Xbox Live.

Last month XBL free game selection is really horrible. In fact, it was such a big shame compared to PS Plus's Tomb Raider.

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EmericaCky2K

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Hitman Absolution was pretty damn fun honestly. Worth the download.

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PGL163

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Why ps+ give indy games for free for ps4,and triple a games like tomb raider for ps3.that is just unfair...

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DaDLM

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I'm pretty sure when your membership end you can't play those game in playstation compare to xbox where you own the game

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Techn1c4l

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I think Microsoft should make free games like GTA 4, Halo: Reach, Modern Warfare 3 or Red Dead Redemption. Won't hurt any sales, but will deliver fantastic games for gamers.

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lhardwick692

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well already bought deadlight on steam and could care less about hitman--and once again Microsoft not giving any good recent games--look at ps plus--it gave tomb raider free to ps plus subscribers ---remember me---devil may cry--come one Microsoft- get on bandwagon get more recent games

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Vodoo

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Finally, MS is giving somewhat more recent games now. To bad I already have both. I guess I'll download Hitman and trade in the physical copy towards something else.

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Avatar image for Warlord_Irochi
Warlord_Irochi

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And... already have Hitman on PS3 and Deadlight too.
Good games nonetheless, and Deadlight is not your everyday zombie game.

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grin89

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give me free xbox 1 and ps4 stuff i traded in my old consoles :(

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Vodoo

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Big mistake. Why do that if neither console is backwards compatible? I have over 100 Xbox Live Arcade games that I bought over the past 8yrs that I would lose access to if I got rid of my 360. Plus, there's still awesome games coming out for those systems.

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Bond_Villain

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Cool. Will check out Hitman.

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isshiah

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A recent game on April 1st? Sounds like a joke. Haha

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TheWatcher000

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OK, I will give them credit where credit is due.


Not bad.



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se007

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Hitman is nothing more than a steaming piece of shit, couldn't bother myself to play past the second mission. The gameplay is just so lame and boring!

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TM261155AT

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Maybe because your rubbish at it. why you complaining about it nobody cares about your cra* opinion.

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cnx2022

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Just cuz you get ass hurt at someone for having a different opinion from you does not mean the rest fo the world does not care, imbecile!

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jark888

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I totally agree with the boring part. Just hate those games that make me feel like doing chore.

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ohjtbehaaave

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Why don't they just make BOTH games available on April 1st and keep them free the whole month?

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lhardwick692

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<< LINK REMOVED >> just in case members only pay month to month-it ensures people will renew membership first of the month or middle of the month

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h4wkw0lf613

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Shorter timeframes make people feel like the offer is limited and thus, more important. Also, having 2 seperate offers entices people to come back for the second one when it comes out, exposing them to the ads on the "free with gold" section of the 360 dashboard. Microsoft's evil marketing at it's finest, really.

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eternal_napalm

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Lol, I got the Hitman game months ago on PS+

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nightsinner

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These are both great programs they have running. Whether you own the games, don't own the games, who cares, you still get to play some great games with either subscription. Personally I have both and I think Sony has the better program but competition is good and it has really made Xbox live step up to the plate.

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nervedamaged

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Got the Hitman game months ago on PS+.

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HowlPendragon

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Not too shabby, MS. You're gettin there.

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jark888

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<< LINK REMOVED >> PS Plus free games are carefully chosen. PS website has done questionnaire to listen to gaming community feedback about how they like those games.

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Gamerno66666

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Wow. decent picks.

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northArrow

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Well, not horrible at least

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skimad432

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once again microsoft is behind sony's service. I give them credit for releasing two relatively new and quality games. Microsoft is improving it seems, but ms still shows their true colors offering hitman many months after sony did and releasing far fewer games. You'd think that in light of the fact that they're so far behind in sales they'd be giving away lots of titles but no, of course not, this is microsoft we're talking about.

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meedokicky

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Liked Hitman, good pick :]

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Terrariafan247

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Amazon prices for this game are as low as £1.48. Microsoft are mugging you guys off. They could at least give Dishonoured or Farcry 3.

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b74kd3th

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I already have those but don't have the 2 they're offering

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blackace

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Decent games this round. Don't think I own Hitman Absolution. i might already have Dead Light though.

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