Xbox Live, the online gaming service for Xbox consoles, has undergone several changes throughout its existence. Initially, when it was introduced in 2002, Xbox Live required a subscription fee to access its features. This subscription was known as Xbox Live Gold. So, to answer your question, Xbox Live was not free when it was first launched.
For many years, Xbox Live Gold remained a requirement for online multiplayer gaming on Xbox consoles. If you wanted to play games with friends or other players online, you needed to have an active Gold subscription. This subscription also provided additional benefits such as free monthly games, discounts on digital purchases, and access to party chat.
However, in recent years, Microsoft has made significant changes to its Xbox Live Gold subscription model. One of the notable changes came in April 2021, when Microsoft announced that free-to-play games would no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online. This means that popular free-to-play titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Warframe can now be played online without needing a Gold subscription.
Additionally, Microsoft also made another significant change related to party chat. Previously, party chat was a feature exclusive to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. This meant that if you wanted to voice chat with your friends while gaming, you needed an active Gold subscription. However, as of April 2021, party chat is now available to all Xbox console users for free, regardless of whether they have a Gold subscription or not.
These changes reflect Microsoft’s efforts to make online gaming more accessible and inclusive to all Xbox players. By removing the subscription requirement for free-to-play games and party chat, they have opened up more opportunities for players to connect and enjoy the online gaming experience without any additional cost.
It’s worth noting that while Xbox Live Gold is no longer required for free-to-play games and party chat, it still offers other benefits to subscribers. These benefits include access to monthly free games through the Games with Gold program, exclusive discounts on digital game purchases, and access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes a library of over 100 games to play.
Xbox Live was not free when it was first introduced. However, recent changes by Microsoft have made certain aspects of Xbox Live, such as free-to-play games and party chat, accessible to all Xbox console users without requiring a Gold subscription.