Starting today, all Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S owners can play free online multiplayer games without an Xbox Live Gold subscription. All in all, that means more than just needing a subscription to play online with your friends. Some of the more notable inclusions on the list include Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Destiny 2, Fortnite, Roblox and Missile League. As part of today’s update, party chat and group search functionality are also available for the same group of people.
Microsoft’s decision to remove the paywall requirement for freemium multiplayer games came after an increase in the price of Xbox Live Gold at the end of January. Initially, the company had planned to double the cost of an annual Xbox Live Gold subscription. Most Xbox fans criticized Microsoft for the plan and continued to withdraw quickly. “We got confused today and you were right to let us know.” said the company following the reversal. “Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of games and we have failed to meet the expectations of players who rely on it every day.” After the episode, Microsoft said it would remove the Xbox Live Gold requirement for free multiplayer games and started.
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