When Microsoft recently flipped the switch to turn Games For Windows Live into a
free-for-all, several cross-platform multiplayer games apparently brought their Xbox 360 denizens with them. That's right,
all three cross-platform titles (
Shadowrun,
Universe at War: Earth Assault and
Lost Planet: Colonies) can be played online by any Xbox 360 user with a high-speed internet connection -- freeloading Xbox Live Silver account holders specifically -- according to a thread on
Xbox Forums. Of course, the catch is you've got to have a copy of one of the participating game discs. So when Joystiq went to verify the reports, we realized our chest-o-games only contained the
good ones. Any far less snobby readers care to shout out a "yea" or "nay" on the matter? [Update: X3F's
Xav de Matos has confirmed that the Xbox 360 version of
Lost Planet: Colonies can be played online using a Silver account.]
In the interim, we've contacted Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360, who told us we can expect Microsoft to issue an official statement shortly.
Update 7:10pm: And we've heard back from a Microsoft rep who tells us, "Last week we announced that we were taking off the Gold-only restriction for multiplayer gaming over Games for Windows- LIVE. For a limited time, we are offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/ Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross platform play. This promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can." You heard the man, go take advantage of it!
{ Jul 28th 2008 at 3:59PM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
StLouisRibs7734 @ Jul 28th 2008 4:02PM
Awesome?
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 28th 2008 4:09PM
Totally!
deaftly @ Jul 28th 2008 4:14PM
Bodacious!
NukeAssault @ Jul 28th 2008 4:21PM
Reaganomics!
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 28th 2008 4:22PM
Tubular!
Sora @ Jul 28th 2008 4:24PM
Flamboyant!
Obie @ Jul 28th 2008 4:31PM
Gnarly!
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jul 28th 2008 4:31PM
toadtacular!!
Hala Madrid!! (Madrileno hasta la muerte!) @ Jul 28th 2008 4:37PM
Righteous!
StLouisRibs7734 @ Jul 28th 2008 4:52PM
SUPER CHAIN BREAKER!!!
Steven Colbert @ Jul 28th 2008 4:54PM
Radical!
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 28th 2008 4:56PM
Far Ou.....wha?? o_O
Bastard! >:(
Mr.ESC @ Jul 28th 2008 6:15PM
Exxxtremee!
Avoli @ Jul 28th 2008 6:16PM
Bossanova!!
Wait...Chevy Nova?
Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 28th 2008 7:08PM
Uncanny.
Banstyle @ Jul 28th 2008 4:05PM
The problem is.. no one in their right mind would own Shadowrun for 360 *without* a Gold account, since it's multiplayer only. So you'd be hard pressed to find a Silver with a copy of it.
Not bashing Shadowrun, I actually love the game.. but still. Yeah.
Banstyle @ Jul 28th 2008 4:06PM
Live multiplayer only, I should say. No local.
Duke @ Jul 28th 2008 4:15PM
That is a much more fair program than I would have expected from them. Though, there needs to be some more interesting games released for cross play. What about the possibility of Halo 3 pc as a cross play? Have they ever said anything about that.
Haggard @ Jul 28th 2008 4:49PM
I wonder how long they would wait for a PC port of Halo 3. I mean, this time they don't have to wait a year for Vista to come out.
Jakka (Not sure why he got banned?) @ Jul 28th 2008 7:14PM
No offence but PC Players would most likely trash the living shit out of Console Owners when it comes to Halo 3.
I do want Halo 3 PC though.
F1 & The Way PC used to be. @ Jul 28th 2008 4:16PM
Yep, Soon Live will be free!!
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 28th 2008 4:24PM
Its inevitable.
...
Maybe :P
Dirt @ Jul 29th 2008 11:07AM
I honestly hope so. I've got all three consoles and I don't see any reason why Live should be subscriber based at this point. Yes, it has features the PSN and goofy Wii doesn't have, but it in no way justifies charging them for it any more.
I jump into lag free games of Warhawk with over 30 people playing on the map with me, browse the servers like I do on PC games, and wonder why Microsoft has closed this all off on my 360, and STILL charges me for it.
It's absurd at this point. I never got a lag free game playing Halo 3 with more than two people. I don't know what to say at this point. The voice chat from anywhere and in any game is brilliant, but thats all you get at this point over the other consoles. I don't get it?
totoro @ Jul 28th 2008 4:19PM
As an Xbox owner-sweet! I'll cancel my Gold account tomorrow if it is true, since I don't use the other features of it anyways.
As an MS stockholder-wtf? The one consistent revenue stream for E&D?
Duke @ Jul 28th 2008 4:26PM
So, you only play Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault and Lost Planet: Colonies?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jul 28th 2008 4:32PM
umm did you read the article? unless you only play shadowrun on live, you won't be able to play anything that's not crossplatform without the gold membership.
matt @ Jul 28th 2008 4:35PM
why would you cancel your account? unless you only play those three titles online you would still need a gold account to play any other game. So this doesn't effect MS shareholders at all.
Haggard @ Jul 28th 2008 4:52PM
I think he didn't read it.
Chase @ Jul 28th 2008 7:01PM
Shh, guys. Let him cancel his account. We really don't need his type of people on Live. =X
Wiinterfang @ Jul 28th 2008 4:22PM
I got to say, microsoft is winning me over.
Hala Madrid!! (Madrileno hasta la muerte!) @ Jul 28th 2008 4:27PM
"we can expect Microsoft to issue an official statement shortly"
free Xbox live ?
xFenixKnightx @ Jul 28th 2008 4:31PM
You never know they might do free Social/Player Match MP and to play Ranked MP you would need a Gold membership. In that case I stay with Gold. =/ I like comp in my shooters.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread) @ Jul 28th 2008 5:01PM
that would make sense. they could still make some money on it and people get the free they were asking for.
Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Jul 28th 2008 5:11PM
That would be nice, since I only ever play online with my friends, could save $50. Ain't gonna happen, though. Microsoft doesn't wanna lose any money; they're making an exception in this case because of the percieved unfairness that you, as a 360 owner, are competing with people who are playing for free on their PCs.
Crusty Magic @ Jul 28th 2008 5:10PM
Just make the whole service free and ad supported.
VSpeck @ Jul 28th 2008 4:33PM
I wonder what the other game designers think of this? I mean I'm sure Bungie would rather Halo3 be free to play online. It seems like it's giving a leg-up to specific titles.
matt @ Jul 28th 2008 4:43PM
yeah specific titles that are on both the Pc and the 360, its not like they just chose random titles. The game developers have a say in whether their game will be free on live or not. It is MS's platform and service and they charge for it.
Nick the Hero of Canton @ Jul 28th 2008 5:03PM
Halo 3 is Halo 3 so I think it already has a leg up on other titles.
Rob Accomando @ Jul 28th 2008 4:56PM
But not free on the first version of Lost Planet?
j.howlett @ Jul 28th 2008 5:03PM
free stuff is good, now give'em the good stuff for free.
humidfreak @ Jul 28th 2008 5:17PM
FFXI you can play with a silver account
Araseth @ Jul 31st 2008 11:34AM
But you still have to pay for it.
Nate @ Jul 28th 2008 5:26PM
Speaking for the entire PSN membership:
You're welcome! :)
Vol @ Jul 28th 2008 5:33PM
Actually, you don't speak for the entire PSN membership. The PSN multiplayer is inferior and worth what you pay for it.
Vcize @ Jul 28th 2008 6:21PM
Actually I'm pretty sure services like Steam and XFire had more to do with it than PSN.
The whole reasoning behind this is that Live went free on the PC, and they were worried that people would be complaining about paying on the 360 for what they could have for free on the PC.
Vol @ Jul 28th 2008 5:32PM
If MS made Live free, how much would it help drive console sales?
Are there any Joystiqers here that would purchase the 360 then?
I think it would be very difficult for MS to give up Live subscriptions. It's like a crack addict giving up crack.
Duke @ Jul 28th 2008 5:35PM
...or like a company giving up profits.
bakabakabaka @ Jul 28th 2008 6:15PM
I wouldn't be surprised if playing online becomes free for the silver account holders. They seem to be planning a bunch of new perks for gold subscription holders like their partnership with Netflix. But don't be surprised if you start seeing more in game advertising and more advertising on your new version of the dashboard for silver accounts.
Leobebes @ Jul 28th 2008 6:22PM
I am pretty sure they will announce a Gold/Silver MP hybrid system. Where older games will be able to be played online with a Silver Membership. Games in the top 10 of Multiplayer and newer titles not so much.
EliteBeatsAgent08 @ Jul 28th 2008 6:46PM
I don't mind if they make playing on Live free for Silver Account holders but they damn well better make sure that the LIVE Servers are up to date and capable of handling all that traffic and what I'm sure will be a high volume of users.
Plus us Gold Account holders should receive MORE privileges, extras, and perks.
Maybe special "Gold" Servers?