XBox Live Gold Now Free On The PC!

“For a limited time, Microsoft is offering free online multiplayer on Xbox 360/Games for Windows titles that offer LIVE cross-platform play. This promotion won’t last, so we can encourage everyone to take advantage of it while they can.”

That’s the official quote from Microsoft regarding Xbox Live playability from your PC with others on 360 consoles.

The promotion covers all titles that include Xbox 360/Games for Windows cross-platform play, and allows 360 users with an Xbox Live silver membership to play online free of charge. A paid Gold-level membership is usually required for online play on 360.

Games that will work with the free LTO include Shadowrun, Universe at War: Earth Assault, and Lost Planet.

If this promo is a success, it will certainly solidify Xbox Live’s position as the Online Gaming Community to beat, putting it even further ahead of Sony’s online community and Nintendo’s “Wii Friend” number system, regardless of the fact that they’re both free of charge.  Allowing PC gamers to play online with console gamers opens up a whole new facet of online gaming that neither of the other 2 major competitors will be able to capitalize on, at least not in the foreseeable future.

More details as they become available.

Wired, PCmag