During a talk at this weekend's SXSW, Microsoft's Phil Spencer said that the Xbox Games with Gold program is "fundamentally different" when compared to "other programs" since it allows members to keep games regardless of whether or not they pay for a subscription.

Spencer is obviously referring to Sony's PlayStation Plus program without directly mentioning the competition by name.
"One of our issues with Games with Gold — not 'issues,' but differences between the other system we get compared to, is the fact that with Games with Gold, you get to keep that game, regardless of whether you continue to subscribe," Spencer said. "And the business around Games with Gold, for us, is just fundamentally different from some of the other programs that are out there, which does put a different financial picture on a — you're gonna go buy a game that's brand new, the cost of putting that in, just to be kind of blunt about it."

Spencer did say that he and the team working on Games with Gold on picking better offerings for the program.
"That said, I have been sitting down, monthly now, with that team — some of the earlier months were already programmed — and playing a more active role in picking franchises that show up in Games with Gold, and I think you'll see at least something that feels, at least, more true to what I think Games with Gold should look like with the constraints that are there

"For us, in the long run, as an industry, giving away content like that is just ... I think there's some steps and some evolution of what Games with Gold or any of the other systems will go through to their full potential. You have things out there that are kind of bigger subscription services, where I get access to a lot of content. Games with Gold is kind of this step in the middle of, 'I get games, and how do I feel about those games.'"

There was still no mention on when or if the program would arrive for the Xbox One.