Xbox free to play games no longer require Xbox Live Gold subscription

(Image credit: Microsoft)

After a brief but failed attempt to raise the price of new Xbox Live Gold subscriptions earlier this year, Microsoft confirmed that the paid barrier to free-to-play games would be abolished altogether. Today, that news is now reality and you no longer need an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in order to access online multiplayer for free-to-play games.

In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft explained that over 50 free-to-play multiplayer games no longer require any subscription to access. This includes games like Call of Duty: Warzone, Dauntless, Destiny 2, Killer Instinct, Spellbreak and Warframe. This change is rolling out across regions today, so if you aren't subscribed to either of the aforementioned services, you should be able to access these games for free now.

This will also apply to new games going forward, including 343 Industries' upcoming blockbuster Halo Infinite, which is confirmed to have free-to-play multiplayer.