Free Xbox Live for Euro gamers

Microsoft will offer European Xbox Live users Gold access for nine days; freebie timed with XO6 event and will kick off on September 20.

Following on the heels of its week of free Xbox Live during this year's E3, Microsoft is set to repeat the promotion in Europe, this time around its upcoming X06 industry event.

Microsoft's Windows Live Spaces service is sponsoring the event, which will run from September 20-29.

While all Xbox 360 users with a broadband connection are able to use the Silver membership to download demos, trailers, and Xbox Live Arcade games, the Gold package offers online gameplay and exclusive downloadable content. All of these features will be made available to Xbox Live Silver members when they are automatically upgraded on September 20.

Currently, there are no plans for the promotion to run in any other markets besides Europe.

100 Comments

  • jakjbt

    Posted Aug 25, 2007 11:17 am PT

    i live in ireland right dats in europe right?
    so i get free xbox live...right????
    wb

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 10, 2006 10:22 am PT

    lucky Europeans

  • allsaintman

    Posted Sep 10, 2006 9:53 am PT

    "wtf free live in africa? come on seriously... how many 360's do you think there are in africa?"

    Erm, am i missing something here. I am pretty darn sure Africa is not part of Europe. In fact it is a different continent altogether. But on the matter of this announcement, unless it is advertised on mainstream media, I doubt this will get the attention it needs and deserves.

  • davidwwone

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 3:34 pm PT

    finally some good news for european gamers!

  • Willdyer10

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    sweet

  • dotcartoon

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 1:08 pm PT

    this is great news. i bought a 360 this week. it should come by the end of the week then i can test gold for free before buying it

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 12:27 pm PT

    Hey Riverwolf007, You forgot the most addicting game of them all...GEOMETRY WARS..lol. LIVE ARCADE ROCKS!

  • skiberdi

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 10:22 am PT

    wtf free live in africa? come on seriously... how many 360's do you think there are in africa? (excluding south africa) and how many of them do you think have high speed internet connections? my bet is about 12

  • onlineps2player

    Posted Sep 9, 2006 3:40 am PT

    Good for Europeans...

  • VegetaMaelstrom

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 4:54 pm PT

    GastaS
    "I heard that M$ is in talks to United Nation about making Xbox Live for Africa for Free, because here we are very poor "

    Sounds nice GastaS, but if that is true then MS doesn't need to talk to the UN about this, all they have to do is not charge a fee from those people. By letting it be known (if this is true) that they are planning on doing this decent service for no charge, MS seems to be not interested in actually helping less fortunate people but to let it BE KNOWN that they are helping less fortunate people. Basically it sounds like they want a huge, worldwide pat on the back. If companies want to help others then they should do it, not publicize the fact that they are giving back. Spend the public relations money on helping even more people then.

  • terrabreak13

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 8:44 am PT

    @SolidTy

    You live under a very big rock if you think online gaming is a niche market. World of Warcraft is only one game and it's raking in 7 million SUBSCRIBED users. Even handhelds are online now. A console without online capability will soon be the same as a computer without internet. I'm actually surprized you have a internet capable computer and speak such crap.

  • sasuke55

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 7:15 am PT

    i think that's cool for EU gamers. I'm just trying to figure out how a system for $599+50 controller+99 HDMI Cables+70 for games (although not announced) and you still have to pay for downloads on PS3's online service is better than 50 controller, 50 a year and a 399 console? You guys math is funny.

  • Chubbums

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 5:23 am PT

    Riverwolf007 did it ever occur to you that maybe Batman629 doesn't have the same taste in games as you?

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 5:09 am PT

    Anybody want to buy my ps3 preorder thats not collecting dust cuz so far its a slip of paper for $2,500. Really dude we know you dont have an xbox cuz if you did you would be playing ghost recon, saints row, elder scrolls,PGR3, enchanted arms, moto gp, street fighter, fifa, madden,dead rising, hitman, table tennis, doa4, fight night, LOTR, burnout, prey, tony hawk, condemed, blazing angels, battlefield 2, far cry, and final fantasy 11.....ok just kidding about final fantasy 11.

  • Batman629

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 4:24 am PT

    Any body want to buy a used xbox 360 thats been collecting dust for 150?

  • soulknight63133

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 1:52 am PT

    I agree, ALOT of "casual" gamers are online now. There are a TON of people gaming on Pogo.com. Including my own mother..lol. She is a die-hard "Word Whomp" fan.

  • GastaS

    Posted Sep 8, 2006 12:55 am PT

    I heard that M$ is in talks to United Nation about making Xbox Live for Africa for Free, because here we are very poor

  • STARS_Splinter

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 11:36 pm PT

    great news. Sure, it might not help the sales of consoles- but thats not really the intention, is it? Seems to me like they just want to show their customers who don't have Xbox Live Gold accounts what they can also have access to, and trialing other features for free can never be a bad thing.

    I don't really get all this about Xbox Live and the 360 being a 'niche market' though. I've never struggled to find a game for anything I've played on Xbox Live, but I can't say the same for some PC online titles I've found. Ok,. so theres more titles for the PC, and thus more choice, fair enough, I understand that. But fact is, there seems to be plenty of Xbox Live players out there, and the more the merrier as I see it. I think Xbox Live Arcade games like Uno and Texas Hold 'Em are great for getting new people into online gaming as well, since they appeal to people who normally might never have considered playing a videogame, let alone playing one online.

  • axes03

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 11:05 pm PT

    "Before more of you bash MS and Bill Gates, how about you gain some intelligence now (before running your mouth), and go and see exactly how much MS and the Bill and Melinda foundation put into the world/community at large, to help improve life in MANY different ways. Through research, disease research, donations of computers and money, opening schools, etc. etc. etc. Now, tell me what Sony does for the world/community at large, that makes them not the "giant evil corporation" that you all put an image of on Microsoft. Fact is, Microsoft isnt evil and does quite a bit of good for everyone. Just people like to bash the "evil MS"... bleh... Just another case of ignorance = hate"
    Nickfreak you somehow read my mind...........AWESOME DUDE!!!!!

  • doubtme

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 9:12 pm PT

    why does this remind me of the guy who tries to please everyone but there is always that one person going "WHINE WHINE WHINE!"

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 7:52 pm PT

    Being a huge fan of Rallisport Challenge 2 i was lucky enough to game with the europeans alot back in the day and let me tell you we definately need more of those guys on xbox live, They are easily the best people to game with on the planet.

  • nintendorocks

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 7:14 pm PT

    I love when Microsoft does this. It shows the Xbox Live Silver members that they are missing a lot.

  • SilV3RSix

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 6:28 pm PT

    PiNoYPrOjEcT
    "Don't believe the numbers. "60% of 360 owners have xbox live". Some people have more than one gamertag, remember that. " Its pretty easy to track actual numbers from IP addresses and Serial #s.

  • gamez-elite

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 5:45 pm PT

    @PiNoYPrOjEcT:
    What does it matter? If you have ever played Halo online, think, "when was the last time I was stuck for a game... and when was the last time I played the same person twice?"
    Anyone with XBL would be able tell you that the answers are 'never' and 'never'. Numbers don't prove anything, facts do.

  • PiNoYPrOjEcT

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 5:15 pm PT

    Don't believe the numbers. "60% of 360 owners have xbox live". Some people have more than one gamertag, remember that.

  • SilV3RSix

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 4:02 pm PT

    @SolidTy
    To say casual gamers have no interest in online gaming is like saying the average person has no use for the internet. We bank online, we shop online, we communicate online, and we play games online. Heck, you can't watch TV without tripping over a Partpoker.net commercial. We are the online generation whether you like to admit it or not. Perhaps casual gamers will never adopt advanced games like Oblivion or FF or Unreal Tournament, but they WILL be playing online.

  • dEaThAwAiTs013

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 3:37 pm PT

    I think a smart move for Microsoft right now (especially with the recent delays announced by Sony) would be to make Xbox Live Gold free for the week of the launches of the Wii and PS3. This would help them push even more 360s off shelves.

  • paullywog

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 3:28 pm PT

    Good for the Europeans. They were mad because the free gold weekends were only here in the US... enjoy.

  • Osinocavalli

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    Nice 1 Microsoft but I think I will pass, I can afford £40 for xboxlive for a year and even better because am waiting to get the webcam bundle wit 1year xboxlive, 2000points, headset 4 £54, to me that’s a good deals because only 1years xboxlive is £40 and including separate webcam 4 £40 and not including all the extras so ma point is a smart person will have to wait and get the bundle.
    Also do any1 know when the webcam is coming in UK?

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 3:11 pm PT

    i watn free live

  • SolidTy

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 2:56 pm PT

    GodBless - "SilV3RSix
    SolidTy-
    "This is good, but WHEN WILL M$ LEARN THAT ONLINE IS A NICHE MARKET! I think this is excellent news, but Fanboys around the world just don't understand that ONLINE does NOT bring in the casuals, nor will it do so for a long, long time!"

    "Are you out of your mind? Mario Kart DS is a great crossover game, and I can finish the argument by simply saying Halo 2. There are so many casual/noob people playing H2 it's not funny. Besides, all sorts of people play yahoo games or MSN games, and those are all online. If those same people play a console, why wouldn't they want to play with other people?"
    "Good Point"

    Actually, it is a terrible point....You guys don't understand what it takes to be #1....being that you two are Niche Gamers, LIKE ME, doesn't change the fact that we have different Tastes and Wants than the casual Market.

  • mcgrawgamer

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 2:19 pm PT

    I don't think Microsoft is trying to step on Sony's toes at all. As the article states it's the same thing they did in the states with E3 giving silver users free gold service. Let's be honest Sony does not need any help with bad publicity they can do it all by themselves. Microsoft is trying to make money by expanding their business. If the tables were turned sony fanboys' would not say a word

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 2:16 pm PT

    Wow, Microsoft really do know how to please everyone. Good on them!

  • dwoop

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 2:14 pm PT

    When are they going to host another free weekend and give awaysome more points more like it...a "niche market"...what an idiot to say that online play is nothing more than for fanboys??? Xbox live made the other systems even start to ofer more in their terms of offerings...Xbox Live has made me get back into gaming more than ever before...

  • GoddBless

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:57 pm PT

    "SilV3RSix
    SolidTy
    "This is good, but WHEN WILL M$ LEARN THAT ONLINE IS A NICHE MARKET! I think this is excellent news, but Fanboys around the world just don't understand that ONLINE does NOT bring in the casuals, nor will it do so for a long, long time!"

    Are you out of your mind? Mario Kart DS is a great crossover game, and I can finish the argument by simply saying Halo 2. There are so many casual/noob people playing H2 it's not funny. Besides, all sorts of people play yahoo games or MSN games, and those are all online. If those same people play a console, why wouldn't they want to play with other people?"

    Great point!

  • TeraTricker

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:52 pm PT

    SergeStorms, you're right... I mean, the ones that don't have an Xbox 360, won't start buying it now, just for the 9 days of free online service... Neh, it won't really let the Xbox sales rise by much or something...

  • SilV3RSix

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:51 pm PT

    SolidTy
    "This is good, but WHEN WILL M$ LEARN THAT ONLINE IS A NICHE MARKET! I think this is excellent news, but Fanboys around the world just don't understand that ONLINE does NOT bring in the casuals, nor will it do so for a long, long time!"

    Are you out of your mind? Mario Kart DS is a great crossover game, and I can finish the argument by simply saying Halo 2. There are so many casual/noob people playing H2 it's not funny. Besides, all sorts of people play yahoo games or MSN games, and those are all online. If those same people play a console, why wouldn't they want to play with other people?

  • SergeStorms

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    This cracks me up. Almost every story has comments that degenerate to why or why not the PS3 is the Titanic of gaming systems. Free live for nine days for people who already own the system is not such a big deal. It will probably recruit new members to Live and is a funny publicity thing in light of Sony's latest mistep of their long march of misteps, but is worth more in publicity than in sales.

  • TeraTricker

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:45 pm PT

    Actually... this is such a slimy move made by Microsoft... Just because Sony can't give us Europeans a PS3 at launch date (which actually isn't too much of a problem), it doesn't mean Microsoft can just show off their Live service for free... sigh... such a slimy move...

  • SolidTy

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:40 pm PT

    NikeFreek - "Thats odd... I thought more than 60% of 360 people were online... Thats a pretty good number for early on in the game, and for a niche market..."

    Uh....the 360 is a Niche Market...if M$ wants more than that, well, they need to do a lot of changes.

  • WESLY_SNYPES

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:39 pm PT

    Man the ink just dried on the news that Europe got screwed by Sony and MS drops a nice strategy to continue to build it's rep over there, perfect business sense and not surprising. If I was anywhere near a position of power in that company I would sell bundles of 360s in Europe with Gears of War come Nov. 17th...

  • korn18m

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:35 pm PT

    SilV3RSix wrote:
    XBox Gold Free for 9 days = Free Servers, Free Established Network, Free Established Community. Sony Free Forever = No Servers, No Established Network, and No Established Community. After all the b***ing about how the PS3 is worth $600 bucks, cows are sure quick to jump on the 'ITS FREE ITS BETTER' Band wagon.
    _____________________________________________________________
    First of all, I did not say it would be better, but it will be more than likely some where near equvilent. By the way, good job on calling me a cow, seeing as I'm no fanboy at all. I have Xbox and Xbox Live. You on the other hand are obviously a lemming. You love MS so much that you has the Xbox logo as your user icon. How lame is that? I'm not a fan of Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. I am a fan of the games, regardless of the system.

    You obviously know nothing about PNP. No servers? How do you think people will play online? It is using servers. No established network? Whay do you think the N in PNP stands for? PNP connects the different game servers into one network. No established community? D'uh. There are no PS3's out to even have a community yet, but you can bet there will be one as soon as it comes out.

    No ones knows if it will match Xbox Live or not, since no one has used it. As far as people claiming "It's free, so there is no way it could be as good as something paid.", that is not nessicarily true. It may or may not be as good.

    The differences between the two, as I have come to believe, is that Microsoft runs the servers on Xbox Live. Sony is not going to be running every individual server. The game companies will host their own servers, and Sony's servers will connect them all to one central hub, so that each user name is used for every game, and stores your buddy list, messages, and such.

    For this reason, in my opinion, some games are going to have poorly ran servers, and others will be great. The way I see it is, if a game is good, and has a large user base, the company will run their servers well. If a game flops, or has boring online play, the company will probably not give a crap about their servers since the game wasn't successful. In my opinion, Xbox Live has the advantage here, but for the most part I don't think it will matter that much. The only people it hurts in the end are the minority that enjoy the games that don't do well, which still sucks, but that's life.

    I'm sure Xbox Live is more expensive to run for MS than PNP will be for Sony, since every game is fully using MS's servers. The relatively small cost for Sony to run their servers will be easily made back off non-in-game, non-invasive advertisements, if they decide to use them. Honestly, I don't care if there is a Coca-Cola ad at the top left of my screen while I'm browsing PNP, or waiting in a game lobby, to save myself $250-$300 over the next 5-6 years I'll be playing. As long as there are no in-game ads, or a commercial before every game trailer download, then I'm fine. Seriously though, this is getting way out of hand. I just wish all fanboys would be banned from this site. You make 3 fanboy comments and your outta here. That's what I wish.

    The only thing I said, was that I found it ironic that people bash when Sony does free online permanently, but praise when MS does free online for 9 days. I was not bashing either console or company. Simply stating that lemmings are contradicting theirselves. All fanboys are pathetic though, not just the lemmings. Sorry if that is what I seemed to imply in my last post.

    So, anyways, about the news article, Xbox Live is a great service and it's nice to know that Europeans with Xbox 360's can get a taste of that great service for free a few days.

  • Maui00

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:34 pm PT

    nice move from M$

  • GTAPro91

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:28 pm PT

    hahahhaha go ms for cashing in on sony screwing europe over.

  • BlazetheDragon

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:27 pm PT

    NextGenAdam sony want your money and the rest of europe so yea sony like europe duh....

  • NextGenAdam

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:18 pm PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • 4esth

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:11 pm PT

    "This is good, but WHEN WILL M$ LEARN THAT ONLINE IS A NICHE MARKET! "

    I think you need to get out of your tree village for a bit. Outside you will find that broadband is cheap and everywhere. Provided you don't live in a tree of course.

  • linktheory

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:08 pm PT

    this is a nice strat probably a good image to MS after stupid 4ss sony posponed the euro lauch.....

  • nikefreak

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:06 pm PT

    "This is good, but WHEN WILL M$ LEARN THAT ONLINE IS A NICHE MARKET! "

    Thats odd... I thought more than 60% of 360 people were online... Thats a pretty good number for early on in the game, and for a niche market...

  • linktheory

    Posted Sep 7, 2006 1:06 pm PT

    GJ M$ keep up the good deeds.

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