Xbox Live on Windows 10 will be free

No paid Gold subscription is required to take advantage of Xbox Live’s online multiplayer functionality on Windows 10 PCs and smartphones, Microsoft announced. The Xbox One does require payment for online multiplayer.

Microsoft’s Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson, confirms the free feature via Twitter. “We’re not going to charge money for it,” he replies to a question from another Twitter user. “Xbox Live Gold will not be required to use our service on Windows 10 for PCs and phones with online multiplayer gaming.”

Microsoft announced the arrival of the Xbox Live SDK to Windows 10 last week. In addition, developers get access to a large part of the Xbox Live services. The service comes to Windows 10 via the Xbox app and will bring social applications and clips to PC and smartphone gamers in addition to online gaming. The company said it will be “an offering from Xbox Live designed to give any developer the opportunity to interact with the Xbox Live community.” It is not entirely clear what the company means by this.

The SDK makes it possible to play games on the Xbox One and Windows 10 cross platform. Several games have already been announced that combine online multiplayer for Xbox One and Windows 10. For example, Gigantic and Fable: Legends can be played cross platform. Gigantic, a game played in teams of five against five, will be released simultaneously with Windows 10.