Despite the current debate that’s going on revolving around if Microsoft will keep or get rid of Xbox Live Gold from the Xbox family of consoles, the green brand has announced that folks that don’t have Xbox Live Gold can get a taste of free online play and Xbox Game Pass. The new initiative started on August 6th and will end on August 10th, 2020.
VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb, writer and accurate leaker, has predicted many upcoming rumors. However, Grubb responded to a Smyths Toys’ deleted claim regarding Halo: Infinite sporting free multiplayer and had the following to say about said topic and the Xbox paid multiplayer service:
“Free-to-play Halo MP only makes sense if Xbox Live Gold barrier goes away at least for free games. [However,] I think it [Xbox Live Gold] is going away entirely.”
Grubb later released a follow-up tweet saying:
“Xbox Live Gold is going away and playing online multiplayer will be free. They will not force you into Ultimate to play online.”
Although many people keep pointing to a recent Xbox PR person saying that Xbox Live Gold is here to stay, it looks like the Xbox Team is trying to gauge the general public’s response to free Xbox Live Gold.
In addition to the above, the official news portal via xbox.com outlined the following information:
This weekend, everyone plays! Anybody can enjoy free access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer, Borderlands 3, DRAGON BALL FIGHTERZ, and Black Desert on their consoles this weekend. Plus, on PC or console, enjoy free access to Gears 5, Subnautica, or ARK: Survival Evolved. Your friends don’t have Xbox Live Gold? Not a problem, this weekend everyone can play multiplayer and battle it out online. Your friends don’t have Xbox Game Pass? This weekend everyone gets a taste of Xbox Game Pass with Monster Hunter World, ARK: Survival Evolved, Gears 5, Elder Scrolls Online, Subnautica, and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, that are free to play.
We mean it. This weekend, Everyone Plays.
In other words, games such as Monster Hunter: World, ARK: Survival Evolved, Gears 5, Elder Scrolls: Online, Subnautica, and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker will be free without a Game Pass subscription this weekend.
It’s worth noting that the “Big Gaming Weekend” event will not add additional time to users that have existing Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. Also, select games may not unlock for certain users due to regional laws. More info lies below:
“Big Gaming Weekend event will take place from 0:01 A.M. PT on August 6, 2020 through 11:59 PM PT on August 10, 2020. Event open to all users; existing Xbox Live Gold and/or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will not receive additional time on their existing subscriptions. Select games will be unlocked and vary by region. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (multiplayer only), Borderlands 3, Black Desert, and Dragon Ball FighterZ are unlocked during this event but are not currently part of Xbox Game Pass.
[…] Xbox Game Pass catalog varies over time. DLC sold separately; if a game is removed from Xbox Game Pass or your membership ends, you will need to purchase the game separately to use your DLC.”
Again, the Big Gaming Weekend event made its debut on August 6th and will end next week on August 10th, 2020.
