Fortnite, one of the most popular video games of last few years, has changed the landscape of the gaming industry. Not only does Fortnite have millions of fans who play the game regularly, but it has also served as an immersive platform for various events, competitions and collaborations. One of Fortnite’s perks was the Xbox Live Gold membership requirement which had been recently taken away.

Gaming fans were elated to learn that Xbox has discontinued the mandatory usage of Xbox Live Gold membership to play Fortnite. The announcement sparked excitement in fans and the gaming community alike. This decision means that free-to-play games do not require any additional paid subscription through Xbox Live, overturning a convenience limitation that had persisted since the early days of the console.

For years, Xbox consoles have always required Xbox Live Gold membership to play some of the popular games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends or COD Warzone online with friends. The move has been made despite the competing consoles – PlayStation and Nintendo – not requiring any membership subscription to play Fortnite online. It comes as an effort from Xbox to build and enhance its family of services, providing gamers new gaming experiences, features and accessibility.

The Fortnite developer’s Epic Games had made the call for all platforms to discontinue their mandatory requirement for Xbox Live Gold membership for Fortnite’s online play. Xbox responded and did not think twice to implement this user-friendly policy change.

The move has not only encouraged more gamers to start playing Fortnite, but it also provides the existing Fortnite players more flexibility in their gaming options. Since the Fortnite gaming community has grown massively over the years, it was always challenging to get enough members with Xbox Live Gold subscriptions to play together. Now players can jump into the game without being restricted, free to play alongside their friends, and at the same time, Xbox users can save a bit of money each year in subscription fees.

Finally, the move to revoke the Xbox Live Gold membership requirement is a long-awaited and momentous change for the gaming community as it will serve as an access point for people who cannot afford subscription fees to Xbox Live Gold. This demotion of the Xbox Live Gold membership requirement is proof that gaming companies are listening, they are seeking ways to improve their overall user experience and encourage gamers to pick up the console they love; with competitive pricing and an approachable playing experience.