Air Carrier pilot landing DEN reported Denver Center advised them they had to wait until communicating with Denver TRACON to receive an arrival runway which caused confusion and uncertainty as to which transition to fly. The reporter heard other arriving aircraft experience the same confusion with Denver TRACON over the correct route to fly.

Narrative

On check in with Denver Center; while descending via the NIXX3 RNAV Arrival; I was told that 'Denver is landing south'. When I asked what runway to expect; Denver center responded that 'we do not assign runways anymore; Denver Approach assigns your runway'. I had not been handed off to approach when the aircraft was overhead JPAGE; still without a runway assignment. Because I was coming from the southeast; I made the decision to fly the Runway 17 transition. When I was finally handed off to approach control I informed them on initial check in that I had not yet received a runway assignment and that I was flying the 17 L/R transition. The Approach Controller was noticeably irritated and stated; 'you are landing Runway 16R' then gave us a westerly heading and altitude to descend to. Based on the overheard communications from other aircraft arriving to Denver; there was much confusion on what STAR arrival transitions to fly. It is my understanding that; without further clarification from ATC Approach; I should have treated JPAGE as a 'clearance limit' and entered the hold upon arrival. I decided against that drastic measure. This is yet an additional negative trend that I have observed upon arrival to Denver that should be addressed. Is this a recent change of procedures between Denver approach and Denver Center?