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Microsoft officially unlocked multiplayer on free-to-play games for all users today, after announcing its intention to do so back in January. Before today, Microsoft was the only one of the major platform holders to still charge for online multiplayer in otherwise free games. There is a full list of titles available at the official Xbox blog, and more titles will be supported as they launch.

Additionally, Microsoft is offering a one-time offer for Xbox Live Gold members to cancel their subscription and receive a partial refund based on the number of days left, as long as they submit their request before June 1, 2021. More details are on their FAQ here.

Source

 

[Obveron]

So, would I need live to play Ark?

Ark is not f2p.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

I think what you meant to say was

Glad im not the only one who remembers that ad

 

[Luz Noceda]

The Exact reason why i never owned a XBOX!! Cuz it is Bullshit. Only want a Xbox for Banjo Kazooie, Conker, COD and Sonic 06 (NO This is not a Typo)

wait... they did this?

 

[banjo2]

Glad im not the only one who remembers that ad

But do you remember this one?

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

But do you remember this one?

This ad is so bad, but in a funny way

 

[Tweaker_Modding]

Sony: Imma pretend I didn't see that, bruh.

you don’t need playstation plus for free to play games on the ps4 and ps5

 

[StrayGuitarist]

C'mon, Ninty. You can do it!

 

[banjo2]

C'mon, Ninty. You can do it!

Aren't they already doing this with Fortnite and a couple of others?

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Aren't they already doing this with Fortnite and a couple of others?

If a game is free to play chances are it uses its own servers, so Sony and Nintendo let you play it online without a sub because it doesn't use their servers. This is true for Warframe, Fortnite, and probably Smite, Paladins, Apex, etc.

 

[Retinal_FAILURE]

Does this apply to us 360 users?

Yes! Been waiting to connect with someone on Crackdown on 360 for about 5 mins. now. it is almost 11 p.m. here in Cali, though. I'll probably shut it off before it finds anyone. It's been like 10 mins of 'Looking for Another Player...', but it would be awesome to play on 360 online again no matter the game. I wonder if there are people playing specific games in 360 or if everyone has forgotten that it's only been like 15 1/2 years since xbox 360 came out.

 

[NinStar]

Regardless of the game being free to play or not, online play shouldn't cost money at all.

 

[k7ra]

both sony and nintendo allow you to play f2p games online since day one, microsoft took 3 generations to do this lol

Wait, on switch for online you should pay. Even for f2p. Or I am wrong?

 

[StrayGuitarist]

Aren't they already doing this with Fortnite and a couple of others?

Are they? I didn't know.

Yes! Been waiting to connect with someone on Crackdown on 360 for about 5 mins. now. it is almost 11 p.m. here in Cali, though. I'll probably shut it off before it finds anyone. It's been like 10 mins of 'Looking for Another Player...', but it would be awesome to play on 360 online again no matter the game. I wonder if there are people playing specific games in 360 or if everyone has forgotten that it's only been like 15 1/2 years since xbox 360 came out.

I live in Cali as well, and I occasionally try to play Black Ops Zombies online. I can never find a match anymore despite them being backwards compatible on Xbox One. Unfortunate.

Regardless of the game being free to play or not, online play shouldn't cost money at all.

Especially not in Nintendo's case where you're literally paying for nothing but the ability to play online, with barely any of their games having dedicated servers.

 

[NinStar]

That's the funny thing because while F2P games have free online, you still have to pay monthly/annually to play online the games you already bought, that seems counterintuitive to me.

 

[MiiJack]

Microsoft is runned by ants.

 

[OuahOuah]

Sony already do this. F2P titles don't need PS+.

Do you mean you can play Fortnite on PS4 WITHOUT PS+ ? o.O

 

[64bitmodels]

I love how I can just go into my closet, dig out my Wii-U, fire up Mario Kart 8, and play it online just like that. All while costing me nothing.

til the servers shut down and you're essentially boned, which will be happening in the near future seeing as how its the fuckin wii u

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Microsoft is runned by ants.

thank you dunkey

 

[ut2k4master]

Wait, on switch for online you should pay. Even for f2p. Or I am wrong?

youre wrong

Do you mean you can play Fortnite on PS4 WITHOUT PS+ ? o.O

correct

 

[pedro702]

Wait, on switch for online you should pay. Even for f2p. Or I am wrong?

you are wromg you dont need switch online to play any free games like fortnite and such same for playstation.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Do you mean you can play Fortnite on PS4 WITHOUT PS+ ? o.O

you could do this since ps4 day one same for switch day one, you dont need to pay for ps plus or switch online to play free games like fortnite and similars.

 

[banjo2]

That's the funny thing because while F2P games have free online, you still have to pay monthly/annually to play online the games you already bought, that seems counterintuitive to me.

I mean, yeah, but imagine downloading a game marked as free (ex. Fortnite) only to find out that you have to pay money to access the main content anyways. There wouldn't really be any F2P games anymore, would there?