Microsoft announced that the 2 free games for Xbox Live Gold members for the month of July are 2009 titles, "Defense Grid: The Awakening" and "Assassin's Creed 2"

The tower defense strategy game, "Defense Grid: The Awakening" is the first free game for Xbox Live Gold members and it will be available during the first half of July. However, Just Push Start reported that this game offering shocked most of the gamers. The report read, "Not that it's a bad game, but offering an old arcade game seemed like a slap in the face when PlayStation Plus members are getting games like Battlefield 3 and more."

Some gamers initially thought Halo 3 will be part of the free games for Xbox Live gold members for this month, since it was one of the featured titles announced during Microsoft's E3 2013 press confence, alongside "Assassin's Creed 2". This misunderstanding made the fans a bit disappointed with the release of "Defense Grid: The Awakening" as one of the July free games for Xbox Live Gold members.

On the other hand, fans get delighted upon hearing the news that "Assassin's Creed 2" is the 2^nd free game for Xbox Live Gold members this July, and it will be available starting on July 17 until the last day of the month.  

Major Nelson of Microsoft confirmed via Twitter that "Assassin's Creed 2" is going to be the second free game for the Xbox Live Gold members for the month of July. Using his verified Twitter account, he shared, "I can confirm that Assassin's Creed II will be the next free title released in the Xbox "Games With Gold" Program https://mjr.mn/18vu90k"

"Games with Gold" program, which offers 2 free games for Xbox Live Gold members per month, (the 1^st one to be released on the first day of the month, the 2^nd title on the 16^th) is the counterpart of Sony's PlayStation Plus offering. This perk is only for the gamers with Gold Subscription to Xbox Live.