Microsoft might be getting rid of Xbox Live Gold altogether, specifically its online multiplayer paywall, according to VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb. The monthly subscription service first appeared on Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console.
Xbox Live Gold Is Necessary For Online Multiplayer Right Now
It has also continued into the Xbox One generation. Both Sony and Nintendo offer similar services with PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online. Online multiplayer is one of the things that players get access to.
Each service does sweeten the deal in its own ways, though, such as offering free games. Xbox Live Gold is a bit egregious in the sense that it’s necessary even for free-to-play multiplayer games, like Fortnite and Call Of Duty: Warzone. PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online don’t have that requirement.
Halo Infinite’s Multiplayer Being Free-To-Play Does Raise Some Questions
However, with the news that Halo Infinite’s multiplayer will be free-to-play as well, people are wondering whether Xbox Live Gold’s multiplayer paywall will even be around when the game comes out. We first heard about this following a leak from Smyths Toys, before Microsoft confirmed it officially.
“Free-to-play Halo MP only makes sense if Xbox Live Gold barrier goes away at least for free games,” wrote Grubb in response. He then followed it up by predicting that the multiplayer paywall might be going away entirely for the Xbox platform.
Grubb isn’t claiming that his sources told him that this is happening specifically. It’s seemingly his personal prediction. Give how reliable he is, though, I’m willing to bet that he’s right.
Microsoft Isn’t Offering Xbox Live Gold’s 1-Year Subscriptions Anymore
Microsoft did recently discontinue the 1-year subscription options for their service, too. “At this time Xbox has decided to remove the 12 month Xbox Live Gold SKU from the Microsoft online Store. Customers can still sign up for a 1 month or 3 month Xbox Live Gold subscription online through the Microsoft Store,” they said in a statement.
This is all speculation right now, but based on the information we already have, it does seem likely. If Microsoft does indeed remove the paywall for online multiplayer, it will be interesting to see how Sony and Nintendo respond.
