Microsoft makes Xbox Party Chat free as part of its Xbox Live free-to-play changes

Xbox Insiders in Alpha Skip Ahead & Alpha today we are flighting some new features. Multiplayer in Free-to-play games, Looking 4 Groups and Party Chat on Xbox no longer requires an Xbox Live Gold membership as we flight and test these service changes ahead of general availability

[darthv72]

smart move, only took them long enough.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Right, if MS wants more users they need break down some of that pay wall and make basic features and games free. Finally they're doing this.

[ABizzel1]

Features aren't the end of the world.

They need to get their AAA games out and have them be amazing, on top of branding and marketing in new markets and maximizing NA and EU. Their goal should be getting back to Xbox 360 global sales.

They have great hardware in the Series X, and technically a low entry point in the Series S (which needs a complete rehaul / marketing push when they can get the price together).

[Sayai jin]

Agreed. Way to long.

[TheExecutioner]

They made it for free because they are planing for paid premium service in the future. When will you think like an adult if you are already rather than putting childish comments

[Father__Merrin]

Deffo an increase coming. Something like gamepass premium gamepass ultimate etc etc and possibly tuning down live gold

[VenomCarnage89]

Party chat was locked behind a paywall this entire time on xbox? I never knew that and as cool as it is that they're changing it for the better, but it's honestly crazy that it was ever locked behind that wall to begin with.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Excellent move hopefully Sony can respond accordingly to something else free *cough* online.

[darthv72]

If we are making a wish list... I'd wish for free cloud saves instead of having to be a + member.

[gold_drake]

this right there

[Sayai jin]

Indeed.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

True do it Sony

[Highrevz]

This would mean so much to me, I’ve lost hundreds of hours worth of saves on PlayStation.

[RedDevils]

Free online like PC.

[spicelicka]

THIS. Stupidest policy ever. Backing up and transferring saves shouldn't be a challenge in this day and age.

[neutralgamer1992]

Never gonna happen psn alone generated more money in 2018 than the whole of xbox and nintendo division. And I would imagine that number has only gone up. Psn plus and XBlive are here to stay because that's free money. Also get ready for a prove hike soon with both, ms tried to double the price soon they will increase it and sony will too. These companies keep pushing the envelope to see how far they can push it before they get resistance

[UncertainCategory]

Got any sources on that? I'm very dubious of that claim.

[P_Bomb]

@Pro
https://www.ign.com/article...

[thesoftware730]

In 2018 huh.

I think we are in 2021 and earning so far do not show this same situation, especially with Nintendo being on fire right now.

But I get what you are saying, the service generate too much $$$

[InUrFoxHole]

In 2018 I scored 4 touchdowns in my High school championship game to earn us the win!
-Al Bundy

[Ausbo]

PlayStation network made more money than Xbox. Not PlayStation plus. This includes game sales.

[UncertainCategory]

Ah that included games and DLC sales. That makes more sense, I thought this was on PSN+ revenue alone. Still I was wrong, thanks for the source P_Bomb.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Hasn't this been free on PlayStation since it was introduced on the Vita almost a decade ago?. Jesus, I can't believe the Vita is that old. haha

[CptDville]

You don't need PSN Subscription to play F2P games online nor use party chat.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

I want free cloud saves

[Knightofelemia]

I like free cloud saves on Xbox Sony you have to pay for that I hate paying to have a party chat with friends on Xbox when it's free on Playstation. We shall see how this pans out I just hope they keep it up it's a party chat you can still bull shit with your friends while not even playing the same online game. I just hope Microsoft does not buy Discord I have a feeling Discord will turn south if Microsoft snags them up.

[Highrevz]

I’d rather Microsoft not buy it as I hoped it would be the app that solves cross play chat issues.

A lot of games do have cross chat but it’s never been brilliant, then there’s games like Rocket League that don’t have any form of voice chat across different platforms.

[sourOG]

“ The removal came after Microsoft was forced to reverse a price hike to its Xbox Live Gold subscriptions earlier this year.”
Yes good keep reversing, you’re not out of your fancy mansion driveway yet. I joke but it’s a cool move. Free f2p and party chat (didn’t even know you had to pay for that) is cool. It doesn’t apply to me though, keep going. Free online with gamepass?

[isarai]

Yeah i wasnt aware party chat was a paid feature either, that blows

[DJStotty]

I think the following is correct :-

You can chat one on one with a person of your choosing for free.

But you needed gold to join a party chat.

Good for those that only play f2p games.

[Hawk198666]

This wasn't free... Wow.

[Neonridr]

should have always been free, but congrats on the move.

[Inverno]

The wheel is spinning, let's spin till online play is free again.

[RoseSapphire]

And here I am like, who doesn't have PS+ or Live and owns one of these systems?

[DJStotty]

This is what i am interested in, surely if you did not pay to play online, you would just play on PC, i don't get it.

[RoseSapphire]

You're also unlikely to be worried about talking with your friends via a party chat unless you're playing online already...

[isarai]

I'll let it go for months sometimes cause i don't play competitive much, and most times i already have or aren't interested in PS+ offerings. It's not till i find a game i want to play with a friend that i renew. But i still often party chat with friends while we're all just chillin doin our own thing.

[CptDville]

Me. Owner of the three systems and not subscribing any of the services for more than 8 months.
Been only playing SP games and sporadically joining my friends PT at Playstation just to chat.

[Darkborn]

This wasn't free before? Typical from Microsoft.

[King_Noctis]

One less thing for you to complain then.

[iplay1up2]

Xbox is moving forward. Good move! Sony fanboys are losing reasons why "xbox sucks" lol!

[DJStotty]

It certainly is another box they will have to untick.

[justadelusion]

microsoft being real tryhards after their last 10 years of failure. still wont help them.

[DJStotty]

You call it tryhards, i call it becoming more and more focused on what their fanbase are asking for.

[StoneyYoshi]

I don't think these changes would have happened if they didn't get backlash from the price hike they tried to pull.

[DJStotty]

Yeah they probably had these changes in the pipeline.

The xbox community rightly so, rebelled against the increase.

[MetroidFREAK21]

You needed a sub to do that? I've been playing on Xbox since 2010 and I didn't know that. What a dumb move. Glad they are getting rid of it

[esherwood]

Free to play is a scary word, wonder how they’re going to get that money back...

[theindiearmy]

It's not scary if you understand the context. "Free-to-play" in this context is referring to the major update to Xbox Live no longer being required to play "Free-to-play" games online. This same update is also removing the Xbox Live requirement for the Party Chat and Looking For Group features as well. That's all the title of the article is referring to.

[shamon85]

cool

[ApocalypseShadow]

Took long enough after years of profiting off of gamers. Should have always been free. Just as shady as when Netflix was behind a paywall.

Always has to be a huge backlash and embarrassing policies brought to light by others to get them to listen. Since it wasn't like their base were speaking up about it. They were too busy screaming about cross play with PlayStation to help struggling multiplayer counts while not looking in their own backyard of getting robbed for something that should be free.

Sorry. They don't get a gold star for it. Only an, "About time!"

[Zhipp]

I really don't think it was Xbox fans asking for crossplay with playstation. Just players of games like Fortnite and Rocketleague in general.

And dang, I forgot Netflix used to be locked behind XBLGold. Now THAT was ridiculous.

[ApocalypseShadow]

It was them. PlayStation fans didn't care one way or the other. It was epic forcing the issue just for profits. Just like they started the issue with Apple about profits. Phil himself spoke about it, their fans and articles made by pro Xbox sites.
https://www.google.com/amp/...

https://www.google.com/amp/...

He was choosing his words carefully but at the same time taking a dig at Sony because they were losing everywhere else and were trying to gain a footing using it. Too many articles I could link.

The Xbox fans disagree about the truth. Yup. Just like Netflix. I was saying over and over in my comments about F2P being free. And always got push back from them. And all that time, Microsoft were racking up millions of dollars on something that was free but needed a subscription to play free.

They can disagree all they like. No gold star for Microsoft for doing something late.

[FallenAngel1984]

That wasn’t free before? Holy shit

[DaveZero]

That's an excellent move. Sometimes if my live has ran out and haven't had money in bank I couldn't jump in party's till got live sorted out again so this is really good.

[ocelot07]

Wait party chat was locked behind a paywall??? That's terrible well that was terrible.

[kainslayer]

hahhahahaha so they copied playstation netrwork and now is xbox network and finally they added free party chat wow this should be done 10 years ago m$

[CoNn3rB]

Wait, it wasn't free already?

[DJStotty]

Anyone with an xbox already knew this, just shows how many people here actually do not own xbox

[Pickledpepper]

I did not know that and have every xbox all the way back to the original.

[DJStotty]

@Pickledpepper

If you have always had gold, you probably would have missed it.

I spent a month or 2 on silver about 12 years ago, and i could not join parties, but i could do one to one chatting.

You could chat, but not join parties.

[GrmpyolGamer]

Can I save to the cloud on PS4 without PS+ yet?

[DJStotty]

I know right can't believe just saving your game to the cloud is locked behind a paywall!!!

[DJStotty]

Genuine question, who in this day and age, buys an xbox or a playstation to not play games online?

Me personally have paid to play online since it's launch date, i just do not get why you would buy a console, which nowadays are built with online at the forefront, would you then just play offline games?

How many is that these days? 5 or 6?

If you do not plan on playing games online, then surely you would just go the PC route?

Just my opinion, and a genuine question, so if there is anyone on here that owns either console, but only plays offline games, i would be interested in knowing the reasoning behind that decision instead of PC.

[CYALTR]

Well, because you asked. I have an Xbox and no interest in online gaming. I do understand that puts me greatly in the minority, but dinosaurs like me do exist!! I am 52 and my first console was an Atari 2600, when it was brand new!! Yep, old fart.

The thing is, there are a lot of us out here, and we have a lot of discretionary income, much more that I had in my 20's at least. The time we can spend gaming is more limited with jobs and kids, etc. but we do game, most of us just don't take the time to post on sites like this.

Anyway, you asked.

[DJStotty]

I was just curious that is all, especially as technology has advanced, and more or less every household (at least in Europe, and US) has a home broadband connection.

Not a dig at anyone, it just peaked my interest is all. I understand not playing multiplayer, i do not do a lot of that, i prefer co-op, singleplayer, but the console is still connected to the home network, essentially putting the console online.

I asked the question incorrectly in my first comment and reading it now, it reads like i was asking about online pvp multiplayer, i meant buy a console, and not connect it to the home broadband for updates etc, things like that, chatting to family/friends.

When i think of a console as being "offline" i see it as currently not being connected to a network via RJ45 or wireless.

P.s. my 1st console was a 2600 and at the time it was the dog's, even though looking back now it was just a white line on either side of the screen moving up and down lol.

[spss11]

As someone who plays almost always offline, I have a gaming PC, Xbox One X, PS4, PS3, and the original Xbox. My main reason to play on console is exclusives. PS4 has good singleplayer exclusives like Spiderman, God of War, Uncharted, etc. Xbox One X has many console games thanks to backwards compatibility like Mercenaries 1, Fable 2, Lost Odyssey, Forza Horizon 1, etc. Since my PS2 broke I use the One X for most older console games.

Also couch gaming is simply more comfortable than sitting at my desk. Particularly for racing games.

[CYALTR]

So while I do not game online, I have had my Xbox "connected" since the beginning. I do buy some digital copies of games and I subscribe to Gamepass so those require an internet connection. I suppose I could shut it off when I'm not doing those things, but I've grown to like automatic updates and things like that. I also used to use it to stream content, though I now have a smart TV, so I don't really use it like that.

So in those respects I very much use the online component of my Xbox. When I started thinking about it, I think I wasted a lot of money paying for Gold as I really didn't do any of the things it unlocked!! I have GP Ultimate now, so it's included, but I suppose it was a bit of a rip off to me.

[franwex]

What they need to do is return the feed. I was very social with my friends and now I am not. I had more fun when I could see what they were up to in the front page.

[Orpheo]

I thought they always had this for free. :D