Microsoft Is Close To Dropping Gold Subscription Requirement For F2P Games On Xbox
Free-to-play games on Xbox consoles are almost fully free-to-play, as Microsoft has removed the Xbox Live Gold requirement for Xbox Omega Insiders. An update posted yesterday stated that:
"Multiplayer in Free-to-play games, Looking 4 Groups and Party Chat on Xbox no longer requires an Xbox Live Gold membership for Omega users as we flight and test these service changes ahead of general availability."
Xbox Omega is the "update preview" club for Xbox owners, which means that the changes seen there are likely to be shortly rolled out to the general playing population. As such, the free-to-play patch could be available to everyone by the end of April.
It's been a long time coming, too. Even all the way back in 2013, prominent folks in the gaming industry were bristling at the need for a paid Xbox Live Gold account to play free-to-play multiplayer games on Xbox systems, in contrast to PlayStation. After years of asterisks after "free" when talking about F2P console games, we finally got confirmation that things would be changing in January. And to think we make fun of Japanese companies like Sony and Nintendo for being stodgy and unwilling to change.
Related Articles
About the Author

Jason Winter is a veteran gaming journalist, he brings a wide range of experience to MMOBomb, including two years with Beckett Media where he served as the editor of the leading gaming magazine Massive Online Gamer. He has also written professionally for several gaming websites.
Read Next
Undead Elves Cause Trouble In Neverwinter's Sharandar Episode 2, Now Available On PC
If you haven't completed the first Sharandar Episode since it launched on Neverwinter on PC in February, you may want to get on that.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 1 year agoYou May Enjoy
FTC Finalizes Order For Epic Games To Pay $245 Million For “Tricking Users Into Making Unwanted Charges”
The fine is to be paid to consumers.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 6 days agoAlbion Online Kicks Off Early Access For “Albion East” Server
That is, provided you have the correct Albion East Founder Pack.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 5 days agoTexas Chainsaw Massacre Game Gets Release And Tech Test Dates In New Trailer
You won't have to wait too much longer to put on your... leather face.
By Michael Byrne - 4 days agoFind Out All About Final Fantasy XIV’s 6.4 Patch In The Upcoming Live Letter
Get ready for Yoshi-P to let us know what’s next.
By QuintLyn Bowers - 3 days agoBlizzard Provides Update On Imperfect Overwatch 2 Matchmaking
Graphs show that players were matched up against those ten ranks above in some cases.
By Matthew D'Onofrio - 1 week agoDNF Duel Has Plenty Of Fight Left With More Fighters Coming Through 2024
The Season Pass Roadmap shows five new fighters coming.
By Troy Blackburn - 1 week ago
Discussion (0)