Xbox Live Gold is free this weekend in the UK

Xbox Live Gold will be free this weekend in the UK, Microsoft has announced.

The promotional period will run from 12:00 on Friday, May 3 to 23:59 on Sunday, May 5, allowing free Xbox Live account owners to access online multiplayer and the service's other premium features.

Double XP weekends will also be running on the multiplayer modes of Gears of War: Judgment, Assassin's Creed III, and Far Cry 3.

Apps like Netflix and Lovefilm will also be enabled for non-paying Xbox Live customers; these subscription services are normally available to Gold account holders only.

In January, Microsoft announced that it was investing more into advertising on Xbox Live.

A recent rumour also suggested that Microsoft was looking into creating its own original programming for Xbox, including a revival of the sci-fi drama Heroes.