Microsoft announced the upcoming change back in January (you remember the kerfuffle about price updates?), but didn’t mention a launch date. Now, recent updates to the Xbox Insider Program suggest that the Xbox Live Gold subscription requirement to play free-to-play games will soon be gone.
Currently, in order to play a multiplayer free-to-play game, like Apex Legends or Fortnite, on Xbox, you need to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, or be sharing it with the member of your household that does. Meaning those free-to-play games aren’t really free, unless you’re the one mooching off the person that subscribes (hashtag me).
Well, your multiplayer mooching will soon be coming to an end, because Xbox Insiders just got an update that removes the Xbox Live Gold subscription requirement.
Multiplayer in Free-to-play games, Looking 4 Groups and Party Chat on Xbox no longer requires an Xbox Live Gold membership as we flight and test these service changes ahead of general availability.
The update has gone out to Alpha users in the Xbox Insider Program, which is one step away from general release, meaning it should be part of the next OS update. This will also bring the Xbox in line with how PlayStation and the Nintendo Switch have been handling multiplayer for free-to-play games for years – better late than never.