Xbox Live Gold not needed for multiplayer gaming on PC, Windows Phone

You won’t need a subscription to enjoy multiplayer gaming under Microsoft’s new melding of Xbox Live and PC Gaming.

Adding Xbox Live-type functionality to the PC gaming universe hasn’t exactly gone very well in the past, but the company’s newest scheme might make things a little smoother and more palatable for gamers who are wary of it. According to a Tweet by Major Nelson himself, Larry Hyrb, there will be no paywall to separate PC gamers from their multiplayer, even if they’re using Xbox Live. In fact, the service won’t be needed to play online at all.

The service will offer players messaging and other features found on the Xbox video game platform, and offer cross-platform multiplayer in some titles like Fable Legends. Reportedly, some games will even feature cross-buy, meaning you’ll be able to get the Xbox version for free if you buy the PC edition, and vice-versa. Microsoft is also promising some uploading and streaming support for gamers looking to take advantage of that  aspect of things, so there is a decent amount of content to be expected from it.

But as of now, it looks like your PC games will still have free multiplayer, no matter if you’re using Live of not.

Source: MCV