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Free Xbox Live Gold weekend coming

Perks of paid membership granted to all Xbox 360 owners in April; online gaming free for 72-hour trial period.

On April 1, don't be surprised to see some online gamers running into walls in multiplayer deathmatches in Perfect Dark Zero, driving the wrong way in Project Gotham Racing 3, or asking gamers what a nickel defense is in Madden NFL 06. The massive influx of "noobs" that will be playing online multiplayer Xbox 360 games on April 1 isn't part of some elaborate April Fools' Day prank. Rather, Microsoft is giving everyone a shot at getting shot (or lapped or scored on) online when it opens up the Free Xbox Live Gold Weekend.

Beginning April 1, Xbox 360 owners with Xbox Live Silver subscriptions will be treated to 72 hours of life as an Xbox Live Gold subscriber, according to Xbox.com's calendar of events. Microsoft has not revealed any further details about the weekend.

Currently, gamers with a free Silver subscription have access to only some online features, such as the ability to download games, trailers, and demos from the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Gold membership, which costs $7.99 per month or $49.99 for a year, includes all the benefits of a Silver membership, plus the ability to play games online.

58 Comments

  • Mirk108

    Posted Jun 26, 2009 1:15 am GMT

    Can't believe I missed all these free weekends. Oh well more will come. Problem is ppl say its $50 a year. And that for America. However in the land down under in the world of Australia and expensive stuff we have to pay $100 a year or well close to that. Nonetheless im glad im able to afford it. Though whenever you are strapped for cash it is pretty annoying. Worth the money though.

  • nellyp

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 3:56 pm GMT

    Hmmm...April 1st eh? sounds like an April Fools joke to me.

  • jjenkins78

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 11:34 am GMT

    Cheers to that Brizofwar. I've supported Live since day one, even after my Sony fanboy friends laughed at me for paying to play online. It would be nice for MS to show us a little more love.

  • Khimarhi

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 10:49 am GMT

    nice to bad i already have it

  • Gmex

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 10:39 am GMT

    microsoft is just trying to pull more people into paying for live, but it's a nice idea none the less i'm sure it'll get more people to sign up for the ultimate power that xbox live has!

  • brizofwar

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 9:41 am GMT

    I just wanna know when the people who pay for it are gonna get any perks like free themes or online competitions for face plates or something, hell we are the ones who pay after all

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 9:27 am GMT

    That is a great incentive by Microsoft, it will give people the opportunity to experience XBL and who knows, some new clients may arrise.

  • dropthehmrb

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 8:11 am GMT

    the great thing about LIVE is you can make friends
    you dont have to play the the 13 year old that lives down the street
    you get a good group of people around you can you can take on anyone in just about any game.
    i always love kicking the s* out of a little smart A* when they come along

  • amirkalloe

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 7:40 am GMT

    This awesome man!

  • ThePhantomVI

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 7:28 am GMT

    DrKill09
    ... The main problem for people isn't the $50 a year, it's that not everyone has the internet, let alone cable internet. Although, I am SO GLAD that 56k is not supported. Lag gets bad enough as it is.
    Posted Feb 24, 2006 7:16 am PT

    Add to that the fact that some of us really don't have that much fun playing online. I started gaming on the Atari 2600, so games have always been a single or maybe double player experience for me. Going online only to be screamed at by 12 year old brats who spend their entire days playing Halo isn't that appealing.

  • ALLoY1717

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 6:42 am GMT

    That is going to be a 72 hour hell period for real Gold subscribers. I would stay away for those days.

  • skitzocyko

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 6:25 am GMT

    good for them

  • ufopuller

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 6:16 am GMT

    72 hours - I'll be plenty tired after that!

  • DrKill09

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 5:16 am GMT

    I see no point in Silver membership. $50 a year is NOTHING. Games cost more than that now. The main problem for people isn't the $50 a year, it's that not everyone has the internet, let alone cable internet. Although, I am SO GLAD that 56k is not supported. Lag gets bad enough as it is.

  • Gohanmohan

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 1:21 am GMT

    You stingy lil freaks. its only £50 a year or $50 a year which is even less. Take MMO's like WOW , my mate pays double that for a year for that game alone! Well he is lvl 60 so it pays off. But for those of you who think Xbox Live! should be free are in serious need of a mental checkup. Firstly, Microsoft makes approx $50 out of every Live! user so $50 x 2,000,000 equals a lot of money. Secondly, its hardly anything if you can buy a £280 console (God knows who much that is in dollars). You are paying to get a quality service, so it is worth it. Incidentally I haven't got Xbox LIve! yet because I need a wireless router
    But for those of you who want to try and join a decent clan with affiliations with some of the top pro gamers in the world check out www.kornclan.tk The Xbox live! section of the clan will be coming soon, most likely next Friday.

  • REDLiNE_10

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:35 am GMT

    Ya right!!! This will be awesome! Easy wins

  • mikekare79

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:32 am GMT

    Xbox live rules. For those of you who do not have it, get it. It's only $50 for an entire year and it's freakin worth it. I did like the free PS2 online but paying for the convience and way less lag experience on Xbox makes it worth less than a $1 a week. Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere gaming.

  • Fallen_Angelz

    Posted Feb 24, 2006 12:22 am GMT

    Microsoft is really trying to take that number 1 spot this generation, too bad they couldnt have put a little more effort into debugging their games and systems...

  • KiLLer_ba

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 11:58 pm GMT

    What about all the Peeps that already have gold.. HUH Microsoft. We're getting nothing.

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 11:42 pm GMT

    cool

  • mickel_darmawan

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 11:42 pm GMT

    who care.

  • davexia

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 10:51 pm GMT

    Why they're stilling charging a fee for online gaming is beyond me. Except for MMORPG's, the PC never does it, and look at it's community. If MS really wants an advantage over Sony, they should make Xbox Live free and make it back by adding more arcade games and downloadable content.

  • LucaBlight24

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 10:16 pm GMT

    Hopefully gears of wars comes before then.

  • VFA-102

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 10:15 pm GMT

    For one, whoever says the 360 is a crap system, DOES NOT have one. End of story. 2nd, the free ps2 online system is a joke compared to xbox live. I gladly pay 50 dollars a year for a streamlined interface, easy interaction, and not have to make separate accounts for different games. As for the free weekend, come on now. If you can't pay 50 bucks for the year, you shouldn't have a 360.

  • secily

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 9:48 pm GMT

    still wont convince me to buy that crap system.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 9:26 pm GMT

    lol... I preordered my console.... And I am waiting, but I have also purchased a yearly membership to the Xbox live... so I will be gold yay... like that somone said, if you can't afford a (Australian Dollars).. 100 Subscription, how can you afford a 650 console.

  • jaredschwyhart

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 8:41 pm GMT

    i think we, xbox live gold members, should get ms points or w/e they're called. this will be a great time to get a higher ranking too!

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 8:22 pm GMT

    Valve rip-off.

  • mythrol

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:41 pm GMT

    For the Price of 1 game, you get to play ALL your games online for a year. hmmm, cheaper than WoW. Not a bad offer.

  • Ninjamonkeyofd

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    up*

  • Ninjamonkeyofd

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:17 pm GMT

    alberto for you information 150,000 people play DOA 4 online. So a little more than 7,000 lmao n00b. Oh ya, and to you all other xbox live gold members, it is a good time to get uo our ranks lol

  • REV-T

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:16 pm GMT

    I Agree with Kizmet, if you already have xbl gold you should get some perks for that time period. Some ms points would be nice..hmmmmm.

  • Ninjamonkeyofd

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:14 pm GMT

    time to take a three day dump like i have always wanted lol

  • alberto2045

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 7:10 pm GMT

    LOL WHAT A STUPID IDEA FROM XBOX ONLY LIKE 1000 TO 7000 PEOPLE HAVE THE,M SO WHAT THE HELL

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 6:43 pm GMT

    this would be great news if i had a 360.

  • CripticChaos

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 6:28 pm GMT

    good thing I'm already gold

  • jayhalofable666

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 6:14 pm GMT

    lol Oblivion it is!!!

  • lakai0rdie

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 6:09 pm GMT

    Sounds a lot like Day of Defeat weekend, but this is more than one game. I'm sure they'll love the lag in Call of Duty 2 and the glitches in Perfect Dark Zero, although it is a lot better than CoD2 online since it rarely lags and has some fun game modes.

  • glunky

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 6:04 pm GMT

    good for them... 72 hours, pshhh

  • Maui00

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:52 pm GMT

    neatto

  • cyprus646

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:46 pm GMT

    Well a majority of players that own an xbox 360 already had an xbl account so that small majority of players that have the silver subscription will be happy.

  • Quack_Attack

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:40 pm GMT

    Sounds...like a complete rip of Valve's idea.

  • andrewtyen

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:33 pm GMT

    that's awesome

  • LTomlinson21

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:16 pm GMT

    good advertising campaign.

  • jasonpopnc

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:07 pm GMT

    XBL free = PS2 online. See what a joke that is?

  • TheVeEJ

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:04 pm GMT

    hahahahahha while noobs are playing 360, i will go ahead with my grand scheme. Braking in to future shop and jacking all the 360s that i can, and throwing it at the sony store near me. If i get caught il just say ps2 made me do it. AAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    i really need to go out more.

  • THX-DTS

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 5:03 pm GMT

    Xbox live should be free...

  • Roy4501

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 4:59 pm GMT

    If there are "levels" on GRAW as there are in Halo 2, or something equivalent, I'll be able to gain some quick ground on them...haha my diabolical plan is set.

  • bluedevl420

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 4:59 pm GMT

    "monkeyman - Oblivion it is!"

    halla

  • spchernandez

    Posted Feb 23, 2006 4:56 pm GMT

    Hope i can see some fun with Perfect Dark Zero cuz i havent seen it offline...

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