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No, You Don't Need to Pay for Xbox Live on Windows 10

Microsoft confirms an Xbox Live Gold subscription is not required to play games online using the new Xbox app for Windows 10.

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It might not come as much of a surprise, but Microsoft has now officially confirmed that you will not need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to access online multiplayer when the service comes to PC via Windows 10 later this year.

An Xbox Live Gold subscription ($60/year) is required on Xbox 360 and Xbox One to play games online and to take part in some sales and other promotions.

No Caption Provided

Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb confirmed the news this week. On Twitter, Hryb said: "Not charging. Xbox Live Gold will not be required for online multiplayer gaming using our service on Windows 10 PCs and Phones."

Xbox Live for Windows 10 was announced during a January Microsoft event. Many of the Xbox Live features already available Xbox, including chat, friends lists, and the Activity feed, will also be available on PC. In fact, some PC gamers can already try out these features, provided they are part of the Microsoft Insider testing program.

When it launches later this year, Xbox Live for Windows 10 will also support Xbox-to-PC streaming, cross-platform play with Xbox One, and GameDVR. Windows 10 is set to launch sometime this fall, though a specific launch date has not yet been announced.

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BloodRageGaming

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i use windows 7 cause i hate mac.. but i dont like windows 7 because of the crap they force on you like all the xbox crap..i would like a playstation support...and other thing!! i have no idea what im talking about? cause just like you i like to bitch about dumb crap...so in conclusion.. thank you for no smoking

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XzerocarnageX

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there will be pc players who have friends on xbox n other way round, theres one reason that mite appeal to pc players, if they could game with friends on xbox live subscription.. Another reason would be if pc players who have clans/alliances on games if the games they are both playing are on both platforms it will enable them greatly to increase there numbers and find more players (period).. Another reason, things like twitch n other money making services where pc player increase subscribers n get paid for it will find an even bigger and ever increasing subscriber support through xbox live..


Pc players should stop moaning period, i hqve given three decent and very good reasons alone to why xbox live would be good for pc, but why is it none of you who are here moaning cant think of a single good reason yourself, stop thinking inside the box all your lives and think beyond your own idiocy for once..


Xbox live will provide more of everything and the only downside to it would be listening to little kids on adult games because lets face it the majoraty if pc players is deffo n adult audiance but there is a such think as a mute button in our community on xbox lol...

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NaturallyEvil

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<< LINK REMOVED >> PC players who don't like this are indeed shortsighted. If enough PC players use this to play Microsoft's games with Xbox users, then they will probably be encouraged to release more of their exclusive games simultaneously on Xbox and PC.

I'm never going to care about owning an XB1 or PS4, but increasing the player base is only a bad thing for whiners who can't get along with people different than themselves.

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P8Z77

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<< LINK REMOVED >> What Exclusives? Halo is the only game anyone cares about. Besides; Dead Rising3, Ryse, Fable:Legends, Forza, Project Spark, Titanfall are already or coming to PC.


Truth is the console player-base lasts a couple months on a console and slowly dies off. The PC player-base lasts as long as they want. The only benefit here is for console gamers to have more players in their games.


We did fine without Microsoft for the last 15 years. We may soon have another Champion on our hands in the PC space, "CD Projekt RED."

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BloodRageGaming

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> but but all those games suck? but you are wise beyond us all...and here i was thinking pc gaming sucks....ooo wait it does...

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Ravenlore_basic

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You have to have an XB1 to stream games to PC, but then you do not have to have gold to play the games online.... IS Microsoft that desperate to sell consoles. what is the point if most games are on PC also. ???? WHY do they even point out the fact that PC and XB1 players can play cross plat??? BOTH games are on the XB1... how is that cross plat!!!?? can someone explain the hype about this. I just do not get it.

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greaseman1985

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PC gaming just got a hell of a lot more attractive.

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Larsondir82

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<< LINK REMOVED >> that's why I went PC this gen. Consoles are underpowered anyways.

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godfather830

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It seems many people are confused. This is my interpretation of this article:


I think there will still be TWO separate stores: one for WIndows 10, and one for the Xbox. What they're saying here is that there will be some games that are on both. And for those games, if you buy it on one, you can also play it on the other without paying for it twice.

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godfather830

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Windows 10 is looking better each day.

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oflow

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Someone should have asked if pcs don't need a sub then why does the console need one?

Anyway, this comments section is a perfect example of how toxic the PC community is in general. So many angry nerds!

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Ezraeill

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<< LINK REMOVED >> well there is a reason,they "can't" tell us to bend over

console players on the other hands.......

o wait there is a picture for that

here: << LINK REMOVED >>

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Ravenlore_basic

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> LMFAO.... Though I do not mind as I get free games on the PS4 PSV and PS3.... I have gotten way more from PSN than I have paid into it BY FAR.... Live on the other hand should have had another person in the back and one in the front.

Really advertising after you pay for the service, and a few commercials to boot. REALLY!!?

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BloodRageGaming

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> i agree with you...but its like trying to convince people "god" is all in your head...one day they will know what shall never be known...

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Johny_47

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The only way I'd be interested at all in Windows 10 is if it's not too expensive, can go straight from Windows 7 to it, they actually have a good amount of quality cross platform games coming out and you can join a group chat with people on xbox, a lot of my buddies use sh^tty xbox and are not interested in pc, I'm vice versa so it would be cool t have that option. Otherwise they can get lost.

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godfather830

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Windows 10 is a free upgrade from Win7 and Win8. They announced that earlier this year.

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Johny_47

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Oh bloody hell, that unusual, what's the catch then? =p

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P8Z77

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Growing the CUSTOMER Base. It's all about the money.

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greaseman1985

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Free for Win8 users any time, but free for WIn7 users only if they upgrade within a year of Win10's release, if they don't upgrade within a year then they'll have to buy it.

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Tigerbite2

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Why do people think you will not need an xbox one? To play xbox one games, you're still going to have to have your xbox one and stream them to your PC. This app connects you to your xbox one through your PC.


The only thing not needed is Xbox Live to play online. (Good selling point for Win10, that's all.)

What are you guys looking at or reading thinking you wont need an xbox one?

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Ravenlore_basic

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I want to know why do they point out that they can cross plat play games. IF both games require an XB1 its NOT cross plat. ALSO most games come out for both console and PC so why would anyone who owns a gaming PC go out and get an Xbox to stream to PC, then stream from weak console to powerful PC?!!! They could go get the PC game and play it directly no weak sauce needed.

To me Microsoft is just trying to sell consoles.

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Tigerbite2

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> It will have cross-platform play. As in, if I have a PC version of a game, I can play with people playing on Xbox one. (I can only assume this is going to be for microsoft studio games and maybe exclusive titles, not sure, maybe 3rd party later on?)

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suicidesn0wman

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<< LINK REMOVED >> It's mostly Sony fanboys and the master race taking shots at the fact some X1 exclusives will find their way to Win10. They like to make a big deal out of the little things to justify their loyalties.

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Cyberjin

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what's the point of having an Xbox One later?
if games is going to become cross-buy/play + no online fee

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greaseman1985

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Not every game will be cross-buy (depends on developers), not every XB1 exclusive will come to PC, and not everyone has a gaming PC, and many people prefer the convenience of consoles.

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Ezraeill

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also i want to know if i can buy Xbox exclusive games on steam

if not ,and i have to use exbox live to play those xbox exclusives,microsoft can give us DirectX 12 and gtfo

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P8Z77

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@ezraeill RYSE, Dead Rising 3 is already on Steam. I can't see any future titles releasing on Steam, instead via the XBox app.

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oflow

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No they won't be on steam it's a direct competitive service to steam. They will be in the Microsoft store.

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Ezraeill

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<< LINK REMOVED >> nvm then, ill take their DirectX 12 then they can gtfo

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Jinzo_111887

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Is it wrong for me to want to see KH3 on Steam?

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Ezraeill

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the is something fishy about win 10

dunno maybe i hated microsoft for too long

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Jinzo_111887

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I have to wonder if I can dual boot it alongside windows 8. I like having a fall back plan in case anything goes wrong.

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Ezraeill

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> yea they can force us to do anything,

and i hope they've learned that much

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sampson3121

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this is the first step for MS to stop producing consoles.

they will go full digital, pc will be where you play all xbox games.

no packaging, no money wasted on making consoles, shipping costs.


it will be a two horse race next gen, Nintendo and Sony.


RIP xbox.

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oflow

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No what while happen is MS will just start making gaming pcs and call them xbox.

They will sell premade media boxes in the $700 range is my guess.

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Jinzo_111887

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<< LINK REMOVED >> Actually, it may still have three next gen. Remember, Steam still exists.

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suicidesn0wman

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<< LINK REMOVED >> I don't think I want to imagine a console gen where the highlights are Drive Club and The Order. Get rid of the competition and Sony wouldn't have any reason to even try. You'll end up with Drive Club 2, where all the new tracks are just mirrors of the current tracks, and the new weather effects are nothing more than a squirt bottle you spray in your face to simulate driving in the rain.


The worst thing that ever happened to Madden Football, was the death of NFL2K, lets not make the same mistake with the consoles.

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> please stop with the Driveclub bashing, anyone that owns it and plays it now knows you're a f-ing idi0t for trying to make the game sound bad... go brush your f-ing teeth, all the $hit that comes out of your mouth, you should use mouthwash also.


what an idi0t!
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suicidesn0wman

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Stop trying to act like Sony didn't put out a giant shiny turd and call it a game. Not my fault you only have the one system and can't play any other racing game.

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sampson3121

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> you mean the racer that is now being praised, the one that has sold almost 2million copies? great game?

to bad $hit fh2 can't even sell 900k on the x1 :) now that's a heaping pile of turd!

Driveclub is the best racer out.

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Jinzo_111887

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> If MS dies out, there will still be... Steam.

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suicidesn0wman

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Nah,I don't think it would be wise to buy an overpriced PC just because it has the valve logo on it. You're comparing PC to console again, which is just plain stupid.

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Jinzo_111887

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> What do you think makes the PS4 and XBO different from a PC, the fact that they can't do as much as one? They run off the same hardware as one, if I'm not mistaken. PS4 runs on a modified version of FreeBSD for crying out loud.

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suicidesn0wman

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<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> As a developer, its the fact that every ps4 is configured exactly the same. You can push the hardware to its absolute limits and not have to worry about how much of the population can handle it, it'll always be 100%. As a gamer, I know I don't have to worry about my specs being able to handle the game at its fullest potential, barring any issues like the ones in Drive Club and Halo MCC I know that the game I buy will work from the moment I buy it with little to no setup.

You go back into history, and game systems from the past were the same way, highly specialized computer systems using gaming centric custom OS's that were simpler to use and easier to develop a game on compared to PC.

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sonicblast19

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Was there even a discussion about this?If people supported it,assuming it was happening,then they were the ultimate morons.

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