Free multiplayer for silver Live members

By Robert Purchese Published 29 July, 2008

On cross-platform games for limited time.

Microsoft is letting silver members of Xbox Live play cross-platform games online for free.

These titles are Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault, and Lost Planet: Colonies.

"Last week we announced that we were taking off the Gold-only restriction for multiplayer gaming over Games for Windows Live," Microsoft told Eurogamer in a statement.

"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."

Microsoft scrapped the Games for Windows Live subscription fee last week, alongside the promise of a PC Marketplace - for demos and downloadable content - to launch this autumn.

Make the most of the offer while you can, then - although that entails buying the games, neither of which are very good.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (73) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Darren #1 4 years ago

    "Until then, we suggest taking advantage of the deal - although that entails buying the games, neither of which are very good."

    Maybe that was Microsoft's plan all along...?

  • Raised_By_Puffins #2 4 years ago

    "For a limited time, we are offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross platform play," a representative explained. "This promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can."

    The representative concluded that, "When the new Xbox experience launches this fall all multiplayer gaming on Xbox 360 will be for Gold members only."

    From Shack Noos

  • thefilthandthefury #3 4 years ago

    Shadowrun is brilliant, fools.

  • Dizzy #4 4 years ago

    Hmmm need to play some more Shadowrun.. what a kick ass game.

  • Eraysor #5 4 years ago

    Shadowrun is pretty good if you buy it from a bargain bin.

  • APHIZM #6 4 years ago

    How come EG haven't picked up on the full story like everyone else - i.e. it's a time limited offer?

  • JediMasterMalik #7 4 years ago

    MS screws up and turns it into a promotion. Hopefully one day they decide to make online play free full stop and don't have to worry about this rubbish.

  • muftak #8 4 years ago

    online multiplayer should allways be free this is the sole reason i didnt buy in x360 and went ps3 .

  • Rash' #9 4 years ago

    There's a strategy involved in this promotion... Free Live could become a real possibility. About time too.

  • bioreit #10 4 years ago

    "These titles are Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault, and Lost Planet: Colonies...Make the most of the offer while you can, then - although that entails buying the games, neither of which are very good."

    Ahem. Three games there, old chap.

    Agree with Universe at War (it's pants), Shadowrun is okay, but Lost Planet is awesome!

  • Dizzy #11 4 years ago

    I am more amazed that MS can unlock certain games... never seen that before in any SDK documentation. Nifty.

  • paulf #12 4 years ago

    give em their first hit for free, then they are yours for life ...

  • SUNDANSS #13 4 years ago

    Muftak, so you paid £100 more for a PS3 that is generally worse online than a 360 to save yourself £40. Clever lad.

  • Rash' #14 4 years ago

    SUNDANSS, Yeah, cause Blu-ray, Wifi and larger HDD don't come into the equation.

  • Rash' #15 4 years ago

    Dizzy, Wouldn't you be more amazed if they were all unlocked... ;o)

  • DFawkes #16 4 years ago

    They should just keep them free. It's only the 3 games, it's not like people will unsubscribe, people wouldn't give up the ability to play CoD4, among others.

    I'm the same as muftak, I focused on my (free) PS3 as soon as I got it, and traded it my 360 in the first week. No point in paying for something I get free now, and in my own experience equally good. Except Team Fortress 2, which is admitedlly far superior on 360 and PC.

    But I digress, it's nice to open these games up to all, though who in their right mind would buy Shadowrun on 360 without Live Gold is beyond me. It's not ideal for the sinlge-player.

  • Carlo #17 4 years ago

    "promotion won't last, so we encourage everyone to "... not bother

  • Dizzy #18 4 years ago

    >SUNDANSS, Yeah, cause Blu-ray, Wifi and larger HDD don't come into the equation.

    For games not really.

  • kangarootoo #19 4 years ago

    Well allow me to smugly polish my crystal ball.

    Who was it, only last week, telling me this was NEVER going to happen? I don't just roll dice and make this shit up you know.

  • kangarootoo #20 4 years ago

    @APHIZM

    "Time limited offer" is just another name for testing the water. I think MS are re-assessing their pay-to-play service, and this is part of that process.

  • Monkey_Puncher #21 4 years ago

    PS3 version of Orange Box is awful, 360 is good and PC is by far the best.

  • Dizzy #22 4 years ago

    What's next? WoW free? :)

    Oh wait...

  • muftak #23 4 years ago

    @SUNDANSS

    40quid a year in which ive saved £120 on yearly subs and 50 on the wifi internet addon and problery having to buy 2 xbox's cause of the red ring so i reakon in the 3 years the 360 has been out ive saved myself min of £170 so whos the clever boy now then.

  • octo #24 4 years ago

    Shadowrun was really layered with subtle depth. To this day I fail to understand why so many reviewers seemed to hate it. The elf class equipped with a glider, teleport and a ninja sword was one of my favourite gaming experiences of last year. Yes it was counterstrike in new clothing but so what? It innovated and provided a really great team based multiplayer environment.

    *teleports through wall*

    *flys to ledge*

    *stabs human through the heart with sword*

    *teleports off*

  • Dizzy #25 4 years ago

    >so whos the clever boy now then.

    Hint: Still not you.

    >To this day I fail to understand why so many reviewers seemed to hate it.

    Because the Internet are a bunch of whiners and they all wanted their PRECIOUS Shadowrun RPG. Tossers.
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/08 @ 11:59

  • paulf #26 4 years ago

    having played both online on ps3 and xbox id say the 40 quid is money well spent on a much more stable platform

  • muftak #27 4 years ago

    @Dizzy

    im sorry does this conern you no it dosnt now go outside and play sonny will you


    you can tell its the school holidays

  • Dizzy #28 4 years ago

    >you can tell its the school holidays

    Yeah.. you can. I think you didn't study very hard last year apparently.

  • skillian #29 4 years ago

    Well allow me to smugly polish my crystal ball.

    It wasn't me saying it wouldn't happen, but this is a very long way from free multiplayer which is what you were suggesting. It's just free MP for three specific titles. It will make an imperceptible difference to MS' revenue, unlike free multiplayer which would cost them millions.

  • Grumbler #30 4 years ago

    Shadowrun is excellent. The review on here even says so.

  • Nithron #31 4 years ago

    But the review on here for Halo 3 gave it 10/10. And it's crap. I mean, even the comments said so!

  • Dizzy #32 4 years ago

    "But the review on here for Halo 3 gave it 10/10. And it's crap. I mean, even the comments said so! "

    Oh dear.. here we go again.

    /ignore

  • Carlo #33 4 years ago

    paulf "having played both online on ps3 and xbox id say the 40 quid is money well spent on a much more stable platform "

    Forgotten all the outages to the Live service already have we? I think you brain just farted.

    [link url=http://www.enga dget.com/2008/01/03/xbox-live-outage-day-13-still-up-and-dow n-still-preventing-fu/
    ]http://ww w.engadget.com/2008/01/03/xbox-...[/link]

    Live is about as reliable as the console itself.
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/08 @ 12:41

  • Rash' #34 4 years ago

    "For games not really."

    Ah, the old, "if it's not for games, it's not worth discussing" argument. I bore of that elitism bull. This is about price of hardware and the need of the consumer. Maybe that stuff isn't important to you and your gaming tastes, but that's ultimately your opinion and not fact.
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/08 @ 12:49

  • peteb #35 4 years ago

    @Carlo

    Didn't that only happen once?

  • spammage #36 4 years ago

    The online experience on the 360 is well considered, easy to match up / join in with friends, has good voice comms. I'm often left a little cold when trying to play online on the PS3.

    I'd happily pay £40 a year for the same user experience on PS3 but we've been promised we won't have to, when home eventually arrives. Despite the ups and downs Live service has had, it IS the yardstick when it comes to online play.

  • miiiguel #37 4 years ago

    "I mean, even the comments said so! "
    wow! do you really take the coments for real? OMG!


    please, please listen to me:
    "Halo is the bestest!"

  • Garulon #38 4 years ago

    "Didn't that only happen once? "

    In six years?

    And with 2.40 still fresh in PS3 owners "minds" I'm surprised. Tsk.

  • Dizzy #39 4 years ago

    "This is about price of hardware and the need of the consumer. Maybe that stuff isn't important to you and your gaming tastes, but that's ultimately your opinion and not fact. "

    Maybe.. but it is called a GAMES Console.

    Maybe if your tastes are broader or specific a Hummer with a build in Wii would be better value for money. Where are you going to draw the line? Hence the "for games" statement.

  • stepneg #40 4 years ago

    @Carlo

    "Live is about as reliable as the console itself."

    Have you actually used Xbox live? I will gladly keep paying for it as I think it is easily worth the money. Coming from online gaming on the PC which has always been free I would still rather pay and have use my 360 on live. I have tried PSN and yes it's free but it is also quite shit compared to live, it comes down to how much you like online gaming but you cannot say Xbox live is unreliable.

  • skillian #41 4 years ago

    Dizzy, if people want the extra features then wjhat's wrong with them pointing out the value of them? People buy the PS3 for what it is, not what you believe a games console should be.

  • Dizzy #42 4 years ago

    >People buy the PS3 for what it is, not what you believe a games console should be.

    Fair enough.. but of course by that definition ANYTHING you buy is good value since you wanted it ;)

  • skillian #43 4 years ago

    Exactly. Which is why I can appreciate that Xbox Live is good value for you, but terrible value from my perspective.

  • Chufty #44 4 years ago

    Lol you guys can make a fanboy console dicksize war out of any article...

    It's actually quite impressive.

  • miiiguel #45 4 years ago

    @ Carlo:
    all the outages: 1 (and you got a game for free because of that). As your link shows.

    "People buy the PS3 for what it is"
    And what's that?

  • MuppetThumper #46 4 years ago

    well im a 360 owner and generally happy with it but have always resented having to fork out £55 to go wireless and take it online (wired network connection wasn't feasible in my case). Blatant profiteering by MS - an outrageous price.

  • miiiguel #47 4 years ago

    "Lol you guys can make a fanboy console dicksize war out of any article..."
    The reason why "MS is da evil fascist company dudes" all popped up, is because the reasons to sustain why they are vilains are disapearing.

    Maybe the dude that threw eggs at Balmer is among us. It's politics, not reason, imho.

  • skillian #48 4 years ago

    imho

    I hope that H stands for honest, not humble ;)

    "People buy the PS3 for what it is"
    And what's that?

    Is that a serious question? If it is, I'd say for most people it's a games console with media functions, although for others it may be just a Blu-Ray player. Maybe for others it's just a gadget to show off to their friends. That was kind of my point, it is what you want it to be and you decide its value for money based on that. Xbox owners shouting that not everyone needs wi-fi or that Blu-Ray isn't needed for games really make no difference to those people for whom those features are worthwhile.

    Edit: and just to make it clear, neither console offers for value for money for money for me, which is why I don't own one. As a PC gamer I get this all the time, with people saying it's a waste of money etc. Obviously, for me, a PC is good value for money or I would have bought a console a long time ago. But as usual, for EG comments threads, personal satisfaction is not enough, and we must all be shouted into submission by the herd.
    Edited by 2 at 29/07/08 @ 14:09

  • LetsGo #49 4 years ago

    GIVE US FREE ONLINE ON ALL GAMES FOREVER ON SILVER ACCOUNTS!

  • miiiguel #50 4 years ago

    That's ok skillian, really.

    What I do find funny, is that many ppl mix other issues with the said "value for money", or is it really a product I would enjoy.
    I do systems administration for a living, Unix. And for that I go to a lot of Unix, Open Source, Linux conventions, and I meet a lot of funny characters with a grudge for MS, and some of them go a bit further, like no Nike shoes because they employ children, no Nestle Ice Tea because they didn't forgive Nigeria government debt to the company (and always that obnoxious pony tail)..., Life that way must be complicated.

    edit: almost forgot, last one I went some character said I should drop the use of SuSE because that american company (evil?) named Novell bought them. uau!
    Edited by 2 at 29/07/08 @ 15:10

  • johnnybrn #51 4 years ago

    miiiguel,

    'no Nestle Ice Tea because they didn't forgive Nigeria government debt to the company (and always that obnoxious pony tail)..., Life that way must be complicated.'

    Can you elaborate on that because I dont get it. Thanks

  • miiiguel #52 4 years ago

    er..., I'll try (my english is not that good): there was this guy that told me he had a list of companies that would never see his money, and I started laughing when he said Nestle, and the reason was because they didn't forgive some african country debt (Nigeria I think). I really thought he was joking, but he wasn't.

  • SUNDANSS #53 4 years ago

    10p a day for Live is good value in my book. If it gives you the best gaming experience then why not, for me it is about the games and how they play. Not who makes the machine, (they are all after your money in the end anyway) that's why I have (mainly)changed each generation so far (VCS, Amiga, PS1,Dreamcast,xbox,360), I wanted some amazing improvements from Sony's 'cell', but so far I have been dissapointed. Even Grant Tourismo is a poor last gen style game.
    If you can't afford 10p then maybe you should get a better job ; )

  • skillian #54 4 years ago

    Nestle have a very controversial history, and many people have boycotted their products.

    [link url=http ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9...[/link]

    I have nothing but respect for people whose personal morals influence their purchasing decisions. It may be complicated but I don't really see why it should be mocked.

  • bitesize #55 4 years ago

    @miiiiguel: i wouldn't compare anti-us sentiment/dislike of microsoft to the boycotting of nestle. there's a world of difference between disliking a company cos you find their business methods dubious or something, and not funding a company cos they actually put profit ahead of human life. try reading up a bit on the subject rather than laughing about it - here, there's even a handy wikipedia page to tell you all about why people don't buy nestle: [link url=http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestle_boycott
    ]http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestle_boyc...[/link]


    all of that may be slightly off-topic for this comments thread...


    edit: and completely pointless since skillian just posted the same link while i was typing...
    Edited by 2 at 29/07/08 @ 15:33

  • miiiguel #56 4 years ago

    I don't "mock" I just find it funny. I mean, they don't forgive a debt to a country that spends it's income in guns instead of spending with their own citizens... but ok... I guess everyone is entitled to try to find a way to feel less of a cog.

    Although I do find a bit pretensious when someone thinks they have a higher moral standard because they carry a spread sheet around with the items they can and can't buy. What's the next level jihad ?

    edit: I don't believe everything Wikipedia says, but then again it's just another tool for that job of trying to feel less of a cog. Just out of curiosity, in Wikipedia, choose boycot... *that'd be complicated* lol!
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/08 @ 15:53

  • bitesize #57 4 years ago


    did you even read the wiki page? it's got nothing to do with forgiving debt or guns - it's about milk for babies and nestle's promotion of their baby milk formula over natural breast milk, with all the problems that entails... try reading the page.

    your point about 'higher moral standards' and 'spreadsheet of items they can buy' is just plain stupid man. no-one ever said they had higher moral standards cos they don't buy nestle products, it's all about what you want to do as an individual - if you're not bothered about their actions as a company, then keep buying their products, fair enough. if it does bother you, buy an alternative product from someone else who's a bit less morally dubious. no spreadsheet required here...

    as for not trusting what wikipedia says, well this all came about long before them - i haven't bought a nestle product for many many years, before i even heard of wikipedia - they didn't make this up. you can read the details anywhere, i just linked to wikipedia cos it's easy to find the info there.

  • miiiguel #58 4 years ago

    ^ the spread sheet comment was not aimed at anyone of you guys, was at that guy (once again I'm not judging his way of life, I just wished he didn't think I am a "capitalist pig" - I swear I could almost see one of those comic book's bubbles saying that). I mean, in 5 minutes he said: I should throw my shoes to the garbage; I should go dring tap water, and I should format my laptop. WTF ?!
    Edited by 1 at 29/07/08 @ 16:30

  • bitesize #59 4 years ago


    well he's obviously a bit of a dick then!

    i'm all for making informed product choices, and not buying from companies that are seriously dubious about their morality,but i don't preach about it to other people - what you wanna do is your own choice, innit?

  • miiiguel #60 4 years ago

    yes, well I'm sorry if I went too far and too off-topic.

    ;)

  • bitesize #61 4 years ago


    yeah i think we may have strayed slightly from the topic in hand... ;-)

  • smoison #62 4 years ago

    Nutella is from Ferrero.

    FYI

  • Krun #63 4 years ago

    Shadowrun is actually great. and was much maligned as it has no single player game and wasn't anything like the Roleplaying game. it has however been my game of choice to play for the last year. All over games have come and gone, and yet i still go back to shadowrun.

  • Ryze #64 4 years ago

    It'd be nice to see M$ use free live as a promotional tool more often.

    Free live on multiplatform games, i.e. those that are available for the PS3 also. Keeping the exclusive4s for Gold members will keep the subs up.

    Also, if that's too much for them they can simply restrict live play for silver members to certain days of the week, times of the day, days of the month, or months of the year.

    Like an off peak service to make sure that their network capacity is not wasted during the troughs. Also, thay could give away free live play to silvers to encourage sales of certain Xbox Original games, like Burnout 3 and Outrun 2006 (please!).

    It's like Carphone Warehouse buying Opal Telecom business to business then using TalkTalk to make the most of the network capacity by giving away free calls to residential customers. It grows the business and lets you sell additional services.

    You still charge for some types of call / online play.

  • SilentScream #65 4 years ago

    "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."

    I noticed a few things in this sentence and automatically knew that it's just another stupid business effort to claw more members and keep members happy. Just another scam which most people fall for.

    1. Limited choice of games

    2. Outdated games that no-one really plays on anymore and won't let them play on popular games as they'll lose out.

    3. The word limited and the sentence This PROMOTION won't last

    Oh how Microsoft make me sick.

  • kangarootoo #66 4 years ago

    @skillian

    "this is a very long way from free multiplayer which is what you were suggesting. It's just free MP for three specific titles"

    Read that back again and tell me if it still makes sense. To my ears, free multiplayer for three titles... sounds an awful LOT like free multiplayer. I say again, the clock is ticking. This is just the beginning.

  • skillian #67 4 years ago

    Yes, it makes sense. This is not free multiplayer, unless we can also say DLC is free on Live just because there are a couple of free map-packs.

    If you know something Kanga, stop beating around the bush and just tell us. But I'm guessing this is just speculation on your part, and this announcement doesn't really make your prediction any more or less likely.

  • kangarootoo #68 4 years ago

    "If you know something Kanga, stop beating around the bush and just tell us"

    Hey, it absolutely is speculation. I have no insider info at all. This is just me observing the market and the industry and making a prediction. It just happens to be a prediction I have confidence in, so I present it very matter of factly :)

    Also, the map pack analogy doesn't quite fit, because we are not talking about content here, we are talking about control of the delivery service itself.
    Edited by 1 at 30/07/08 @ 10:42

  • skillian #69 4 years ago

    Fair enough. I think you may well be right, and if PS3 starts to gain ground/overtake Xbox 360 then I wouldn't be surprised to see MS open up free multiplayer for all. I really hope they do it too, as I think online should be free for everyone, just like it is/has been for every other online-enabled system.

    I just don't think this is much of an indicator of that happening. If anything, I think it's just appeasing those Xbox players who would rightly feel hard-done by when playing games together with PC gamers who haven't had to pay.

  • kangarootoo #70 4 years ago

    I tend not to think in terms of should and shouldn't. I tend to think that market forces are quite able to sort these things out in the long run. If people are happy to pay for XBLive (as many are, including me most of the time) then MS will keep charging for it. If people don't like that, they can vote with their wallet.

    I just think that now is the time when MS have to start caring what the PS3 is doing. There was a time when the installed based of the PS3 was so small, MS didn't really have to react that much. Now the PS3 base is growing, MS have to consider every area in which it might appear to be more appealing to new and existing customers (I say existing customers, because MS aren't just concerned with selling new 360s. They also want existing owners to keep using the XBL service).

    I'm not saying that paying for XBLive is a deal breaker for anyone choosing a console - far from it, but no company should ignore any aspect of their product that appears less appealing than a competitor's offering. MS have to continually examine whether the money they make from XBL subs is the most profitable angle to take, and whether making a few quid each month from each user is not costing them more money elsewhere in a less obvious way. If they drop the subs it wouldn't be a matter of just writing that money off, it would be more about finding another avenue from which they can generate the same income, in a way that is more palletable to a majority of customers.

    Like I said, it hasn't mattered previously and most people still agree that XBL is ludicrously good value, but I feel in my cerebral bones that a change is in the wind.

  • skillian #71 4 years ago

    Heh, I've had similar conversation with you before and I know you're a "market forces" kinda guy ;)

    That's obviously the way to think about it, as MS are never going to make the decision one way or the other based on anything else but profit. The free Live Gold subs on PC show that they are willing to change their minds if the market doesn't accept their proposition.

    I'd love to see Xbox users boycott the service for a few months, a little protest if you will, and I'm sure MS would offer it free to them too, but as you've said most users are happy paying for the service so that'll never happen.

    The really interesting thing is that if PS3 had launched on time and in a less shambolic manner, PSN might have been a subscription system too. I think they had to offer free MP just because they were playing catch up, and MS might have to do the same if the tables begin to turn.

  • Lamb #72 4 years ago

    In Raphaels voice from TMNT:

    We got the Foot Klan over heeere and the ninjas over heeere.

    Mortal Kombat guy: FIGHT!

    The guy who sings go ninja go: GO FANBOYS! GO FANBOYS! GO!

  • Tlaloc #73 4 years ago

    Great. At present my 360 is at Microsoft having its Red Ring of Death smeared with the Microsoftian version of Preparation H.
    Does this news make me all fuzzly-wuzzly and happy-wappy with life? It f**king does not. /vent