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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.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

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MissTrist

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MissTrist

If they really want to unify both platforms, then they need to drop the gold subs.

It was one thing to ask console gamers to pay for the privilege of gaming when the console services were unique to the console. But now, the games will be the same, the store front will be the same, servers are the same, even who you can play against or with will be the same. The ONLY difference will be how you interface with those services. And for that you should be expected to fork over an extra $40 for the exact same experience just because you're on a console?

In no world will that work.

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McGregor

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McGregor

The competition model on the PC is that online is free. If you charged, no one will use it. Console's have a pay model, everyone is used to it. I may be in the minority, but I'd pay to play cross platform with my console friends,as long as I didn't need an xbox 1.

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kentray1985

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kentray1985

They also would have to give us better games on Xbox live and stop rolling one game over to the next month. Sony just gave me 3 free games on my Ps4. In fact the Ps4 is killing it with them indies. I'm buying all the spring fever games with no hesitation!

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Jinzo_111887

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Jinzo_111887

<< LINK REMOVED >> You mean random games. They're tied to your PS+ subscription, so free isn't the right word.

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sainraja

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sainraja

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Games with Gold are also tied with your XBL subscription.

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Avatar image for Jinzo_111887
Jinzo_111887

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Jinzo_111887

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> That's why I prefer Steam and GOG over those two. Games aren't tied to a premium subscription fee, nor is online multiplayer.

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sainraja

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sainraja

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Hmm, okay. I thought you were making a different point.

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Avatar image for Jinzo_111887
Jinzo_111887

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Jinzo_111887

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Truth is, I am not into XBox, so I have much of a clue on some of those things. However, I do know that "Random" does work for the PS+ titles since you don't get to vote on them.

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BusterFriendly

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BusterFriendly

<< LINK REMOVED >> Online games isn't the only feature of the gold subscription.

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mark_1313_13

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mark_1313_13

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> It was the only feature of Gold until they introduced Games with Gold which wasn't that long ago.

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JRTexx

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JRTexx

<< LINK REMOVED >> Games with Gold has been a thing for nearly a couple of years. Next moth is the one year anniv for it being on Xbox One.

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sainraja

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sainraja

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Not a couple of years.

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MissTrist

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MissTrist

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >>

Then it would have to be something like the PS3, where you can play for free, but if you choose to buy into a subscription service, you can get extra stuff like free games, but charging only the console gamers to play the games everyone else will be playing for free? Including those console gamers if the go into the other room and access their game on the PC instead of their console? I don't think so.


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andmcq

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andmcq

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> Correct and this is the reason comparing XBL it to PC is nonsensical.

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Avatar image for misstrist
MissTrist

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MissTrist

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> How can you not compare it now that MS wants to make playing on the X1 and the PC the SAME experience?

How does it make sense to buy a game that they promise you can buy one time, and play on your X1 and your PC, and your Win10 tablet, but only on the X1 do I have to pay another freakin $40-60 to use the GD game I already play for free on everything ELSE??!?!?

That is freakin crazy. And if they try it, they're going to end up with another revolt like they got when they tried to pull that DRM crap on everyone.

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andmcq

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andmcq

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> DRM is fine. Steam uses it and I have no problem with well implemented DRM.


As far as a 'revolt' happening, and I assume you don't mean that sweet little RC racer game from Acclaim because that'd be awesome, nothing's going to happen. It's pretty much going to be accepted just fine.



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JRTexx

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JRTexx

<< LINK REMOVED >> DRM crap? Right. So you don't have any internet accounts... like Gamespot... Steam... anything like that? Pretty sure majority of PC gaming is just that... "DRM crap"

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holocam22

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holocam22

It's the only reason anyone actually pays for the gold subscription. If online play was free on xbox no one would pay for gold.

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BDRTFM

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BDRTFM

People actually thought this was possible to the point MS had to clarify it?

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xantufrog

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xantufrog  Moderator

<< LINK REMOVED >> yeah, can you imagine the uproar from PC gamers? The thing is, now they are in a weird position of charging some customers for the same service while others get it free... not sure how that will play out. But it would not have gone over well to require it of PC gamers

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normanislost

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normanislost

<< LINK REMOVED >><< LINK REMOVED >> you could buy an xbox one and then play your games through your PC and avoid paying for live

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Choad-Warrior

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Choad-Warrior

It happened before with Games for Windows Live. They got huge backlash from the community for trying it.

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