Microsoft Rebrands Xbox Live to Xbox Network; Plans to Drop Subscription Requirement for F2P Games

xbox network

Xbox Live is no more — at least in name, as Microsoft is changing the Xbox Live name to just the “Xbox Network.” This name change was originally spotted by Xbox beta testers with Microsof tnow confirming the name change.

In a statement sent to The Verge, a Microsoft rep said the following:

“’Xbox network’ refers to the underlying Xbox online service, which was updated in the Microsoft Services Agreement. “The update from ‘Xbox Live’ to ‘Xbox network’ is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships.”

While it’s not that big of a change for gamers since it’s just changing “Live” to “Network,” there are more plans brewing that will benefit Xbox gamers, and this includes dropping the subscription requirement for games that are free-to-play (F2P). In the coming months, games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, etc., will no longer require gamers be suscribed to Xbox Live Gold, though Microsoft has not exactly shared when this massive shift will take effect.

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