Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it would no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play free games like Fifteen days and Apex Legends online. The company has now started testing a panel update that allows for this policy change. In addition, in a surprise addition, it also makes group chat available to non-Gold subscribers.
Xbox Insiders on Alpha Skip Ahead & Alpha, today we are launching some new features. Multiplayer mode in free games, Looking 4 Groups and Party Chat on Xbox no longer requires an Xbox Live Gold subscription, as we fly and test these service changes before general availability
– Brad Rossetti (@WorkWombatman) March 24, 2021
Microsoft’s decision to remove the payment requirement for freemium multiplayer games came when it reversed the course of a planned Xbox Live Gold price hike in late January. Once the policy change is implemented for everyone later this year, it will bring Microsoft in line with Sony and Nintendo, neither of which requires you to subscribe to its premium multiplayer services if you want to play free online games. Today’s update also includes the Xbox Network change detected in the past few days. Xbox Insiders on the Alpha and Alpha Skip Ahead rings can download the new software.