Xbox fans are once again putting pressure on Microsoft over one of the oldest console debates in gaming: paid online multiplayer. A request on Microsoft’s official Xbox Feedback Portal titled “Make Online Multiplayer Free To Access” has now gained more than 20,000 votes, with players arguing that online play should not be locked behind Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate after they have already paid for a console and the games they want to play. The request is currently listed as open on Microsoft’s Feedback Portal.
Xbox Fans Are Asking Microsoft to Remove the Online Paywall
The message from players is pretty simple. They want online multiplayer to be free across Xbox consoles, instead of being treated as a subscription benefit. Right now, Xbox’s own Game Pass comparison page lists online console multiplayer as a feature, while also noting that free-to-play games already have multiplayer access open to every Xbox player.
If Fortnite, Warzone, Apex Legends, and other free-to-play titles can be played online without an extra subscription, many Xbox users are asking why paid games still require Game Pass Core or Ultimate for multiplayer access.
Game Pass Core Is at the Center of the Debate
Game Pass Core replaced Xbox Live Gold in 2023, with Microsoft saying existing Gold members would automatically become Core members at the same pricing while getting access to a smaller library of games.
Microsoft’s Xbox Player Voice platform has quickly become a place where fans are pushing for broader changes to the Xbox ecosystem. Game File reported that “Make online multiplayer free to access” was the second-most requested item on the forum in late May, behind only the request for more Xbox exclusives.
It is now one of the most visible pieces of feedback on Microsoft’s own platform. Whether Microsoft acts on it is another question, but the demand is clearly loud enough that Xbox cannot easily ignore it.
Would Microsoft Actually Make Xbox Online Multiplayer Free?
A more realistic middle ground could be a cheaper online-only plan, a more flexible Game Pass system, or expanded free access for certain games. But the fan request is not asking for a discount. It is asking Microsoft to remove the paywall completely.
The debate around paid online multiplayer is not new, but the timing makes this moment feel different. With Game Pass prices, console value, PC competition, and Xbox’s multiplatform strategy all being heavily discussed, fans are becoming more vocal about what they want from the platform.
