Xbox’s Games with Gold for December includes Burnout Paradise backward compatibility

Call it an early present

For once, the most exciting part of Xbox’s Games with Gold comes not from a new release but from a very old release. It’s the Xbox 360 and not the Xbox One that’s the star of the show.

Xbox has announced December’s Games with Gold, and 2008’s Burnout Paradise is free and backward compatible next month. This is particularly notable because Burnout Paradise is largely considered to be one of the best open-world racing games of all-time, and it has been one of the most oft-requested backward compatible additions since the program’s reveal at E3 2015.

While it’s Criterion’s Classic that’s in the driver’s seat, there are some really good games riding shotgun. On Xbox One, Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition is free the entire month of December. Outlast joins in from December 16 through January 15. On the Xbox 360 side of things, Outland is free the first half of the month, and then Burnout Paradise takes the wheel for the second half.

Xbox Live Games With Gold For December 2016 [Major Nelson]