What Is The Xbox Live Gold Membership
Xbox Live Gold is a subscription-based service that can be purchased in one month, three month, and one-year periods. Xbox Live Gold subscriptions are $59.99 for 12 months, $24.99 for three months, and $9.99 for one month.
The paid Xbox Live Gold service gives you all of the free level features along with the ability to play games with friends online as well as early access to demos. Gold members also benefit from discounts and free games every month, making the price well worth it for frequent gamers.
An Xbox Live Gold subscription is no longer required to use Party Chat, Looking 4 Groups, and free-to-play multiplayer features.
How To Get Free Xbox Live Gold
Xbox Live Gold isnt free, but you can score the occasional free trial if you look in the right places. Some games include free Xbox Live Gold trial memberships with purchase although these trials rarely exceed two weeks. Free Xbox Live Gold memberships are often included with Xbox console bundles as well, but buying a brand new Xbox just for the free trial membership probably isnt the best use of your money.
Another way to score a discount on Xbox Live Gold is to wait until a sale to subscribe. Since Gold members often save an additional 10% off the sale price, the cost of a 30-day Gold membership can quickly become negligible. If youre planning to buy $100+ worth of games, you can basically get a month of Gold for free, and you get to enjoy all the benefits listed above for the next 30 days.
Microsoft is wise to this savings strategy and often offers Gold subscriptions for $1 in the weeks leading up to major shopping events like Black Friday. In these cases, buying literally any game on sale will likely cover the cost of your Gold subscription.
If youre not ready to spring for an Xbox Live Gold membership today, be sure to set a Deal Alert so you dont miss it the next time memberships go on sale.
More to consider:
Is The Xbox Live Gold Price Increasing
For one hot second the Xbox Live Gold price was increasing, however as of January 2021, that decision has been reversed . It seems the backlash was too great for Microsoft to put its costs up at this stage.
Tabs is a Deals Editor at TechRadar, bringing you all the latest savings on the tech everyone’s talking about and covering deals on gaming, laptops, tablets and more in the US and UK. Happiest with a DualSense controller in her hand, she’s also contributed to GamesRadar, Tom’s Guide and T3 and specializes in gaming hardware and computing.
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Xbox Series X And Series S
Note If you cant locate Store, scroll down to Add more on the Home screen and select the Store tile. Then select Add to Home.
Xbox Live Gold Benefits
If you want to get stuck into free-to-play Xbox multiplayer games such as , you’ll need an Xbox Live Gold subscription.;
Xbox Live Gold also gets you two free games a month for Xbox Series X, Xbox One and Xbox 360. The 360 games are backward compatible, so you can play them on an Xbox One. Over the course of a year, Microsoft says members get up to $700 in free games. Pretty tempting, right?;
And the benefits don’t end there. Xbox Live Gold members get up to 75% off games in the Xbox Store and are always first in line to download new games on the day they hit stores. Best of all, you won’t even need to leave the couch.
The other major perk is that your digital games are stored in the cloud, so you can download them to your hard drive, or log into your account to a buddy’s Xbox and download your games there.;
In other words, an Xbox Live Gold subscription is essential if you want to squeeze maximum enjoyment out of your Xbox Series X, Xbox One or 360, so it’s well worth having at your disposal. Especially at these prices.
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You Shouldn’t Buy This If
- You want affordable games
- You only play free games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone
- You only use Xbox services on Windows PCs
Xbox Live Gold upgrades your Xbox gaming experience, and while revised for 2021, the service still serves the same purpose for most. It’s the only gateway to playing multiplayer games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, although the value will vary on each user. While frequent online gaming across various titles demands Xbox Live Gold, those who prefer single-player games, or stick to popular free experiences like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, have little reason to pay up.
Xbox regulars shouldn’t overlook Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft’s new higher-tier subscription, bundling Xbox Live Gold alongside other benefits. It costs more, at $15 per month, but unlocks hundreds of games in the price as one of the best deals in modern gaming.
New free-to-play changes also mean that many of the most popular Xbox games no longer require Xbox Live Gold, especially suited to casual users who play only a few titles and can’t justify the subscription for infrequent gaming sessions. But the moment you stray away from this curated list, investing in a 12-month Xbox Live Gold membership delivers the best value out there.
Xbox Live Gold
How Do I Get Xbox Live
You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription in several ways.
If you’d like to subscribe right from your Xbox, press the Xbox button and scroll to the Settings tab. Select All Settings, then Account > Subscriptions. Here, choose Learn about Gold membership and you can proceed to purchase a subscription. You’ll need to enter a credit card if you haven’t done so already.
If you’d rather, you can purchase prepaid Gold cards at drug stores and other places that sell gift cards — even Amazon. On the Xbox home, scroll over to the;Store tab to open the Microsoft Store. Select Use a code and enter yours. Confirm the redemption and you’re subscribed!
Don’t want to subscribe using your Xbox? You can purchase a code from Microsoft’s website and/or redeem yours on Microsoft’s redemption page from your PC.
Are you an Xbox Live Gold member? What’s your favorite benefit? Tell us what you think down in the comments!
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How To Purchase An Xbox Live Gold Subscription
You don’t necessarily need a credit card to sign up for an Xbox Live Gold subscription. You can use one, but you can also buy Xbox Gift Cards or Gold subscription cards at retailers. Purchase a Gold subscription card at a retailer and then enter the code on your Xbox. You can also purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription from the official Xbox Network website and through your Xbox 360 or Xbox One console.
For security protection, it’s better to buy Xbox Gift Cards and Gold Subscription cards at retailers instead of using a credit card online.
Xbox Live Gold: Price And Availability
Xbox Live Gold is available as a monthly subscription for $9.99 per month in the U.S. and over 40 additional territories. It’s also available in upfront installments for savings on the usual monthly rate, priced at $24.99 for three months, $39.99 for six months. Xbox Live Gold is available through a 12-month prepaid membership for $59.99 via third-party retailers like Amazon, GameStop, and Walmart, although no longer through Microsoft. This tiered pricing structure makes it better to purchase Xbox Live Gold in bulk upfront, over the monthly fee.
Microsoft’s all-inclusive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription includes Xbox Live Gold, too, coupled with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, cloud gaming on mobile, and other perks like EA Play. The subscription is available for a flat $14.99 monthly rate in the U.S.
While Microsoft outlined plans to increase Xbox Live Gold pricing back in January 2021, it later reversed the decision following widespread backlash.
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What Do You Get With Xbox Live Gold
Xbox Live Gold gives you full access to the online Xbox experience. With Gold, youll be able to play online multiplayer games with other Xbox Live Gold members . Gold also gives you access to cloud save storage .
When it comes to game discounts, Gold members have access to all sorts of exclusive deals in the Xbox Store. This includes discounts of up to 50% on games and access to exclusive sales at various points throughout the year.
Finally, Gold members get to enjoy Games with Gold, a program that offers users two free Xbox 360 and two free Xbox One games every month.
How Much Does Xbox Live Cost
The sticker price for Xbox Live Gold is $60 per year. You can also purchase a three-month subscription for $25, or one month for $10. Obviously, subscribing for a year is the best value.
However, you’ll often see retailers offer deals on Gold subscriptions. Before your subscription runs out, keep an eye out for discounts so you can play for less. You can also earn free months of Gold through Microsoft’s rewards program.
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How Much Does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cost
Xbox Games Pass Ultimate is priced at $14.99/£10.99 a month. You can cancel at any time.
As mentioned, it includes Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Games Pass for PC and EA Play. Plus, Microsoft’s cloud service, Cloud Gaming, is part of Ultimate at no extra cost.
The standard console-only version of Games Pass doesn’t include Gold, EA Play, Cloud Gaming or the PC version. It costs $9.99/£7.99 a month. It’s the same price for the PC-only version when subscribed to separately. Ultimate is clearly the better deal.
What Is Games With Gold
If youre already an Xbox Live Gold member, you should really be participating in the Games for Gold program. Every month, Xbox releases four games Xbox Live Gold members can download for free.
While you need to maintain a Gold subscription to access the Xbox One games, its a well-kept secret that you get to keep any 360 Games with Gold titles forever, even if you revert back to the free version of Xbox Live.
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Best Xbox Live Gold Deals : Cheapest Subscription Prices
Fancy a killer deal on an Xbox Live Gold subscription? We’ve got you covered. Microsoft charges $10 per month or $25 per quarter but why pay that when you can find it cheaper elsewhere?
We’ll explain all the benefits Xbox Live Gold membership below, but suffice to say that it’s an essential purchase if you want to make the most of your Xbox Series X. Struggling to find stock of Microsoft’s next-gen console? Here’s today’s best Xbox Series X deals.
As for the lowest prices on an Xbox Live Gold 3-month, 6-month or 12-month subscription, we’ve shopped around and listed the best deals below. We’ve also spotted some sweet savings on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which provides access to 100+;games for one monthly fee.
Read on for our take on Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate, and where to find the biggest discounts and cheapest deals in the US. Let the price-busting commence!
- On a budget? Check out today’s best Xbox One deals
What Is Xbox Live
Xbox Live is Microsoft’s online gaming service for the Xbox line of consoles. Anyone with an Xbox and an internet connection can take advantage of Xbox Live’s free features, like adding friends, downloading demos, and using entertainment apps like Netflix.
Normally, when people talk about Xbox Live, they mean the premium Xbox Live Gold service. This is required to play online multiplayer, but also rewards you with free games each month, exclusive discounts, and enables party chat to talk across games with your friends.
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Destiny : Solstice Of Heroes 2021
Join high-flying fireteams and soar across the European Aerial Zone in search of glory and treasure. Each day features a chargeable buff based on either Solar, Arc, Void, or for the first time Stasis. New for 2021 are Prism days where you choose the element you charge! Earn Legendary Solstice armor and upgrade it until it begins to glow, revealing the power within.
Xbox Live Gold: What’s Not Good In 2021
While Xbox Live Gold delivers upon all its promises, unlocking the full multiplayer experience on Xbox consoles, the subscription has its shortcomings. For some, it’s the concept of paid multiplayer, whereas free online gaming is an overlooked luxury for many on PC. But the subscription’s current offering has also fallen under scrutiny, especially in light of the recent changes to free-to-play gaming.
While paying for online multiplayer has proven the norm for Xbox, that’s not to say it’s dodged heavy scrutiny at times. According to reputable reports, Microsoft even looked to phase out paid multiplayer back in 2019, as Xbox Game Pass takes the spotlight moving forward. The recent tweaks to free-to-play multiplayer have since materialized in a move that, for some players, could eliminate the need for Xbox Live Gold.
Free-to-play games now make up some of the most popular Xbox games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends. There’s a valid argument to cancel your Xbox Live Gold subscription if among those only using a console for those no-cost titles. That hugely restricts which experiences you can play, but it’s an ideal way to save on your upgoing gaming costs.
Xbox Live Gold’s “Games with Gold” program, offering four free games each month, pales in comparison to Xbox Game Pass offerings.
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
If you want to combine your Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, you can save with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. On top of your free monthly games courtesy of Live Gold, you’ll also get access to the entire Xbox Game Pass library for one price.;
While you can only grab three month memberships at the moment, buying both Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass separately through a rolling subscription with Microsoft will set you back $59.94/£44.94 for those three months. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will save you at least $15/£12, and that’s before you’ve even taken a look at the great deals below.;
We’d recommend starting off with the $1/£1 introductory month available through your Xbox console, before cancelling your auto-renew and grabbing one of these amazing discounts.;
Microsofts Apology And Retraction
Microsoft added this statement, in bold type, at the top of its amended Xbox Live Gold pricing announcement:
We messed up today and you were right to let us know. Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of gaming and we failed to meet the expectations of players who count on it every day. As a result, we have decided not to change Xbox Live Gold pricing.
Were turning this moment into an opportunity to bring Xbox Live more in line with how we see the player at the center of their experience. For free-to-play games, you will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play those games on Xbox. We are working hard to deliver this change as soon as possible in the coming months.
If you are an Xbox Live Gold member already, you stay at your current price for renewal. New and existing members can continue to enjoy Xbox Live Gold for the same prices they pay today. In the US, $9.99 for 1-month, $24.99 for 3-months, $39.99 for 6-months and $59.99 for retail 12-months.
Thank you.
The original price increase announcement appears verbatim below this statement, but with lines drawn through the passages that detail the planned price increases that were rescinded.
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Best Xbox Live Gold Deals In The Us
If you don’t want to commit, Microsoft will sell you a 1-month Xbox Live Gold subscription for $9.99. The membership renews at that monthly price unless you cancel it. That’s a hefty $120 annually. ;;
The best-value way to get Xbox Live Gold directly from Microsoft is to pay quarterly. The company charges $24.99 for a 3-month membership. That cuts the cost down to under $100 per year.
The good news is that you can save even more with a 6- or 12-month membership. Microsoft no longer sells them direct to US gamers to encourage Xbox Live Gold members to upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate. But in the meantime, Xbox Live Gold is not going anywhere so now is a great time to pick up a cheap deal.
We’ve shopped around to beat Microsoft’s subscription prices. Check out this month’s best Xbox Live Gold deals and discounts below…
Get Xbox Game Pass Ultimate For Only $1
Want to level up your online gaming? Consider stepping up to the Xbox Game Pass. It gets you all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold membership plus access to over 100 awesome games, which can be played on Xbox, PC and Android mobile devices.
Here’s the best bit: you can get your first three months of Game Pass for just $1. That’s a massive 93% saving!
After that, it’ll auto-renew at the regular price of $14.99 per month but it can be cancelled at any time; there’s no contract to worry about.;
Already used up Microsoft’s $1 GamePass trial? Here’s how to save more money over the next three months… ;
