Photo: Mark Kauzlarich/Bloomberg/Getty Images
The change was made official after Microsoft started lifting the restriction in its Xbox Insiders beta testing program. Furthermore, a system update this month will open up the Looking for Group option to all users, and party chat used while playing free-to-play games will also no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription.
Microsoft offered more information in an FAQ posted Wednesday. The new policy applies to a list of 70 titles available for Xbox platforms. Additionally, a game’s listing page in the Microsoft Store will indicate whether it is free to play online or requires Xbox Live Gold.
Xbox Drops Xbox Live Gold Paywall for Online Multiplayer for Free-to-Play Games
In a post at Xbox Wire, Microsoft has announced that, starting today, it will be making online multiplayer free-to-play games available on Xbox without a paid Xbox Live Gold membership. Xbox players will be able to access online multiplayer at no extra charge for the more than 50 free-to-play games that have this functionality.
Xbox provided a list of the free-to-play games that are affected.
Xbox Free-to-Play Games That Are Really Free to Play Now
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Xbox Free-To-Play Games Are Finally Free To Play
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Screenshot: Bungie
Starting today, all Xbox players can play more than 50 free-to-play games without an Xbox Live Gold membership, Microsoft announced in a blog post. The update comes on the heels of a ballyhooed reversal of longstanding Xbox policy.
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In January, Microsoft announced a steep price increase to Xbox Live, essentially doubling the cost of the service needed to play Xbox games online. Fans reacted negatively and swiftly. Less than 24 hours later, Microsoft reversed course. Xbox Live Gold memberships would remain at the price they were listed at prior to the first announcement: $10 for a month, $25 for three months, or $60 for a year.
Xbox Live Gold No Longer Required for Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Other Free-to-Play Games Apr 21, 2021 12:20 EDT
Microsoft began testing the change last month, and now its official – Xbox Live Gold is no longer required for free-to-play games as of today. So yes, that means if you’re spending most of your time in games games like Fortnite, Rocket League, Path of Exile, Apex Legends, or Warframe, you can now play without that monthly XBL Gold tax. Microsoft has provided a list of more than 50 (actually around 70) F2P games you can now play without Gold…
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