Assassin’s Creed 2 is free for Xbox Live Gold members

Download the beginning of Ezio Auditore’s journey for free right now if you are an Xbox Live Gold member.

[LocutusEstBorg]

This is such a weak attempt at PSN Plus. Hilarious. Ancient crap that no one wants or useless indie games.

[Zichu]

Why complain about something given away for "free"??

[iamnsuperman]

We can criticise them though. Surely Microsoft has a big first party game that has just released just to advertise the feature. I mean we are building up to a launch of a new system. You want major good press. Giving Halo 4 away for free would make people want to stay with Live and not think about transferring over. It is a waste of good PR opportunity here

[kreate]

I gladly accept ac2. Now keep giving us more free games.

Don't spoil ur gamers and than stop at the end of the year :)

[shikamaroooo]

Speaking if PS+ Need for speed Most wanted, Mafia II, Spec ops the line!!!! For Europe and Australia next month

[bjmartynhak]

Fuck! I just bought Spec Ops on Steam! And I really prefer to play on console.

PSplus is really amazing. Now that it is mandatory though, I'm not sure they'll keep it so good

[NihonjinChick]

Hold on! I just notice something. You guys complain about AC2 being old but have no problem with Mafia 2?

[MrBeatdown]

@IncredibleGamerChick

You're right.

It is old. We should complain until we get something newer like NFS:MW or Spec Ops.

Oh wait...

[GenericNameHere]

Hey!... Ass Creed 2 was actually pretty good. Though I don't know why but after that, I just didn't feel Ass C anymore. Never played Brotherhood, Rev made me mad, and III just made me bored and mad. Good thing I borrowed it from a friend. I don't know how I would react if I just spent $60 on a boring game like Ass III.

[CRAIG667]

You don't "own" games on PSN, it's a glorified rental service.

[HacSawJimThugin]

Gotta love how you get disagrees for stating facts.

[bjmartynhak]

Fact. But just get a free month trial and think if you really want to cancel it. I thought I would play one game and goodbye, but no, every month something good appears

[Thehyph]

While this is true, it doesn't change the fact that ps plus is a phenomenal value. The ONLY beef I have had with it is the necessary storage space. It's not so much an issue with ps3 because you can put almost any hard drive in there. Vita I had to suck it up and buy the expensive memory card. Stupid proprietary.

[Temporary]

The people who say PS+ is just glorified game renting are fools.

On any given day, I can log on to the PS Store and see 50-100% off of games, sometimes brand new games. For a measley couple of dollars a month I dont mind having access to dozens of high quality games.

Instant game collection is the best thing to happen to me, I have a HUGE backlog of games I downloaded that I havent even started playing yet ... if you look at the list of games offered for download you'll realize PS+ is nearing "ESSENTIAL" status for gamers.

Assassin's Creed 2 is better than nothing, but Microsoft need to learn a lesson in humility and start giving their consumers more. But we've all known for over 20 years that Microsoft is not to be trusted.

[famoussasjohn]

I haven't looked much into PSN+. Say you buy a 3 month subscription of PSN+ and it runs out and you resubscribe, do you still have access to those games that you had downloaded or do you lose access to them forever?

[FamilyGuy]

resubscribe an regain access, even if you let it run out and wait a bit before resubscribing. I initially got the 3 month sub to check it out. I liked it but wanted to see what new games were coming out before committing to a year sub so I waited about a month before resubscribing. Kept everything I had.

[LocutusEstBorg]

It's not just for the free month, you keep it as long as you're paying for PSN Plus. That's usually forever...

[PCGamingNoobs]

meanwhile the coming month on ps+
mafia II
need for speed: most wanted
spec ops: the line
LEGO lord of the rings (vita)
When Vikings Attack (vita)
and then the discounted stuff

[KingOfArcadia]

Yeah, cause those games are waaaay better. When Vikings Attack sounds sooo awesome.

[Temporary]

Truth hurts...

PS+ offers more bang for your buck. But obviously people like you will continue to defend Microsoft. When you get Halo 2 and Too Human for free you're going to jump up and down for joy and kiss M$' feet, eh?

[GameCents]

Fact is, Games with Gold isn't a PS + like service.
People didn't buy GwG hoping to get games, people simply bought gold wanting to play online. The fact that we are getting 13 games on top of that is a bonus and a pleasant suprise.

On top of that, getting to keep the games really drives home the fact that they are free.
I don't expect GwG to beat PS+ because I didn't buy gold for the free games.

[iamnsuperman]

I wouldn't mind indie games being free but I do agree for their first launch they could have got a much bigger/recent game. Surely Microsoft has some games to give like Halo 4 or something just to advertise the new feature

[Wikkid666]

What new feature?

[CRAIG667]

I downloaded defence grid,a game I would have never have given a 2nd chance, and I must admit it's amazing, addictive as hell,it was free,I cant complain, it's just sony wankers who are complaining...keep you're noses out,shut up and get a life.

[JBSleek]

So you are going to compare the services when this just started because as we know when PS+ started they had a stellar line up correct?

/s

Also if this service does get better and comes to the One I think a key difference is that this allows you to keep your games as PS+ does not.

[iamnsuperman]

"Also if this service does get better and comes to the One I think a key difference is that this allows you to keep your games as PS+ does not."

I don't think that will be a big deal next generation. PSN+ is becoming compulsory to play online so more people will have it/keep it and a lot of these games have online features so you have to have Live and PSN+ to play most of the games/majority part of the game

[HeavenlySnipes]

I believe they are only doing this until the end of the year then its over. They aren't giving away a free game every month for the years to come

The highlights of this initiative look to be Fable 3, Halo 3 and Assassins Creed 2. 2/3 are great games but all of them are old and very popular among gamers (like, how many 360 gamers haven't played Halo 3 already??)

[HacSawJimThugin]

Whether its old or not its free plus I get to keep it for the rest of my life unlike PS plus...nice try troll.

[FanboyCrusher]

No it's not. It's simply a free game. What it's a bad thing people get free stuff now? Only PlayStation owners are allowed to get free games? Stupid fanboy.

[Animal Mutha 76]

First comment Kurian and you mention PS+.........

What has that got to do with this story about a free game on Xbox?

OT I will dl this as I didn't try it when it first came out. Better than nothing.

[HardcoreGamer]

i can complain when they are giving you cookies without the chocolate bits.

ALL THE PEOPLE I KNOW ALREADY OWN THIS GAME. THIS IS PRETTY BAD CHOICE OF GAME TO GIVE PEOPLE. EVERYBODY HAS PLAYED THIS GAME.

COMON MICROSOFT PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER, AND GIVE ME SOMETHING RECENT, ID PLAY DISHONORED

[LogicStomper]

"Waaaah Waaaaah Waaaah! The Christmas present you bought me sucks! Buy me something better!! WaAAaaAAhhHH"

That sums you up pretty well I think.

[KingOfArcadia]

Huh, funny you should say that, I just took a peek at the new stuff you guys get on PSN - and there wasn't anything there to be bragging about chief.

[safsaan]

i want it, is that a problem?

[3-4-5]

Too late, but this is the peak of the series and a really good game to be honest. This direct sequel to this with multiplayer was good as well. After that is all down hill.

[Becuzisaid]

Yaaaaaaay.........

[CRAIG667]

Cue the bitching and moaning...

[No_Limit]

Just Downloaded it. Never play this game before so it is nice that I can play it now.

[HardcoreGamer]

MAKE SURE YOU PLAY THE FIRST BEFORE NUMBER 2, ITS A GREAT SERIES

[LogicStomper]

Uggh don't know about that. I have to admit, I bought the first one for Christmas a long time ago but it put me off the franchise due to its repetitiveness.

Just started playing the second one last night though and it seems significantly better.

[Hufandpuf]

the first one got boring really fast. The second one is the pinnacle of the series.

[MasterCornholio]

Thats pretty cool but Games with Gold is still a pretty weak service in comparison to PlayStation plus. And for one plus subscription you gain access to games on the PS3, Vita and PS4 while games with gold only affects the 360. Add to the fact that Microsoft's service will end in December while Sonys will continue beyond that month.

IMHO

Motorola RAZR i

[GameCents]

Games with Gold is not a service though. It is a bonus program that nobody actually bought.
It would be pretty sad if it were on par with PS+ because PS+ users actually pay for that service and do not get to keep their games.
There really is no use comparing a bonus program that gives you unexpected free and possibly old games to keep and a rental service that gives you newer games to play for a while.

[Thehyph]

Wouldn't that mean that as soon as plus is mandatory to play online it just becomes a competition of bonus programs? "Keeping" very few games compared to "renting" many, many more. They're both digital so you never truly own them. Besides, the money saved in one year from the instant game collection alone (not discounts or freebies) equates to enough to pay for plus for the next 30 years. I don't mind renting games if it's (64 games for $50 per year) $0.78 per game for a year.
If the service were to produce 64 games in another year, that's 128 games available for $50. This means all the games are now $0.39 rents to rent for your second year period. This means that if the model was kept the same, the fifth year of PlayStation plus would give you 320 games at about $0.02 to rent each for the year. OR
320 games for $250, which means you paid $1.28 per game.

I'm fine with renting.... just sayin'

[NihonjinChick]

I have a PS+ and XBL and I admit PS+ is better.

That being said, I haven't played this game in a long while and I'm glad they put it up for free because I have always wanted to give it another play through.

[MilkMan]

Pathetic!
I'm glad after 6 years with these lamebrains I'm stepping my game up and moving to greener pastures.

[KingOfArcadia]

We are too! Have fun over there with the other lamebrains.

[LogicStomper]

Haha complaining about free stuff. Doesn't get any worse than that.

[HacSawJimThugin]

If you don't own an Xbox...why are you here? If you think PS+ is the better service, why are you here? Why do Sony trolls feel the need to spew venom in every Xbox related article? Go learn about DriveClub or something. I'm honestly starting to believe that their feelings are rooted in jealously because of what MS is offering next gen while Sony is only offering the PS360 aka PS4.

[KingOfArcadia]

I got this one - Sony fanboys are so insecure that they have to bash everything else in order to try and feel superior. Why else would they think they need to come in and bash a free xbox game on an xbox forum?

[HardcoreGamer]

TO HELP ILL INFORMED XBOX GAMERS, WHO THINK THEY ARE GETTING A DEAL

[LogicStomper]

Uhh sorry, but do we have to conform to your views? Do we have to follow in your foot-steps and do what YOU think is best? Do YOU know what's best for US? Do you even know who we are and what we enjoy? No.

So why do you think you should go spouting your crap about how your prefered console is better than ours? You know comparing two consoles is more difficult than comparing two kettles right? The kettle only has one function while a console has many. So if you weren't so ignorant, you would know that MAYBE one console aligns with ones preference more than the other.

So instead of 'ill-informed' I think it will be better as 'illogical' and, instead of Xbox gamers, it should be you.

[HardcoreGamer]

COMON MAN, PSN IS GIVING OUT SOO MANY GAMES, IV BEEN RIPPED OFF EVER SINCE XBOX ONE REVEAL. I HATE MS NOW.

IM JUST EXPRESSING MY ANGER ON THE INTERNET

[TidePride]

Free is always good but a game that came out in Nov. 2009 is pretty weak.

[Thegamer41]

Exactly, I saw this game used last week at a Cex store for £1.50.
I get it that some people still have not played it yet so good for them but considering the price of this game, people that still have not played it are not interested.

[Dobgamers]

Downloading it right now..., I love PS+, can't wait for NFS Most Wanted on my PS3!

[Relientk77]

The best Assassin's Creed game in the franchise

(in my opinion)