Xbox is testing out removing Live Gold requirement for free-to-play games

Fortnite for all

Some changes are coming down the pipeline for Xbox Live users. Today, an update to the Xbox Insiders Alpha will remove the Xbox Live Gold requirement for Party Chat, Looking 4 Groups, and multiplayer in free-to-play games.

According to the release notes, these service changes are being flighted and tested ahead of general availability, implying they’ll make their way to all Xbox users eventually.

Microsoft had already announced it would be dropping the Xbox Live Gold requirement for free-to-play games back in January, when it reversed course on a price increase for the Gold service. 

Xbox Live has been undergoing a shift as well, with Xbox Live recently being rebranded to Xbox Network. “The update from ‘Xbox Live’ to ‘Xbox network’ is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships,” Microsoft told The Verge.

It’s good news for folks wanting to get in on some Fortnite or Warzone without the Gold requirement, and could be interesting if Halo Infinite‘s free-to-play multiplayer experience falls under the same provision.