Xbox Network: Difference between revisions

* '''User Freedom''': Service is mandatory for users intending to play online games, however in 2021, free-to-play games do not have this requirement.<ref>{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=March 22, 2021 |title=Microsoft rebrands Xbox Live to Xbox network |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/22/22345276/microsoft-xbox-live-network-rebrand-name-change |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517220803/https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/22/22345276/microsoft-xbox-live-network-rebrand-name-change |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=Nov 17, 2025 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

* '''User Privacy''': Same data collection practices as-is outlined by other [[Microsoft]] products.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 2025 |title=Microsoft Privacy Statement |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement |access-date=Nov 17, 2025 |website=[[Microsoft]]}}</ref> <!-- ; such as [insert examples here]

* '''Business Model''': When formerly ''Xbox Live'', functioned as a [[subscription service]] to access online features. In 2021, it now covers [[Xbox Game Pass|''Xbox Game Pass'']], among other subscription-based monetization models. Additionally receives revenue from product sales on the [[Microsoft Store]].

* '''Market Control''': Exclusively available for [[Xbox]] and [[Windows]] platforms; only option for online features on current [[Xbox]] consoles.

==== Games for Windows Live - Unknown<!-- Section needs more work, please reference related Wikipedia article for details: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Games_for_Windows_%E2%80%93_Live --> ====

''Games for Windows Live'' (GFWL), the version of ''Xbox Live'' intended for [[Windows]] PCs at the time, was announced to shut down on July 1st, 2014,<ref>{{cite web |date=August 19, 2013 |title=Microsoft: Games for Windows Live service ending July 2014 |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4637694/microsoft-games-for-windows-live-service-ending-july-2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201557/http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/19/4637694/microsoft-games-for-windows-live-service-ending-july-2014 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2025 |work=Polygon}}</ref> however [[Microsoft]] stated that GFWL would not be shut down roughly 1 month before the announced shutdown.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Maiberg |first=Emanuel |date=June 21, 2014 |title=Microsoft Says It's Not Shutting Down Games for Windows Live |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-says-it-s-not-shutting-down-games-for-windows-live/1100-6420654/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625081927/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-says-it-s-not-shutting-down-games-for-windows-live/1100-6420654/ |archive-date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=November 17, 2025 |work=Video Games |publisher=Gamespot}}</ref> Regardless of the announcement, features under GFWL progressively deprecated since 2014, most importantly for right to ownership, the game license activation service, which was required in order to launch any game released for GFWL.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bari |first=Muhammad Ali |date=April 20, 2025 |title=Games For Windows Live Game License Activation Service No Longer Appears To Be Functional |url=https://twistedvoxel.com/games-for-windows-live-license-activation-service-no-longer-functional/ |access-date=Nov 17, 2025 |work=Twisted Voxel}}</ref>

==== Games With Gold - September 2023<!-- Turns out GWG titles for Xbox One required an active Gold subscription, consider integrating it! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_network#Former --> ====

Prior to September 14th, 2023, users who paid for ''Xbox Live Gold'' received 3 free games that were permanently added to the user's account each month under the "Games With Gold" program. When ''Xbox Live Gold'' was transitioned to ''[[Game Pass]] Core'', subscribers instead receive temporary access to a rotating selection of 25 randomly chosen titles on ''Game Pass''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=Jul 17, 2023 |title=End of an Era as Microsoft Replaces Xbox Live Gold With Game Pass Core |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/end-of-an-era-as-microsoft-replaces-xbox-live-gold-with-game-pass-core |access-date=Nov 17, 2025 |work=[[IGN]]}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=2023-07-17 |title=Xbox Game Pass Core to replace Xbox Live Gold in September |url=https://www.polygon.com/23797388/xbox-live-gold-ending-game-pass-core |access-date=Nov 17, 2025 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=September 14, 2023 |title=Xbox Game Pass Core is launching with 36 games this week |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/13/23871737/xbox-game-pass-core-36-games-release-date |accessdate=Nov 17, 2025 |work=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

==== First-generation Xbox Live Shutdown - 2010<!-- Reference Wikipedia article, ignore Noble 14?  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_network#First-generation_Xbox_Live_shutdown --> ====

=== Xbox GamePass <!-- Reference Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_network#Xbox_Game_Pass --> ===

=== Online subscription services ===

* [[Nintendo Switch Online|Nintendo Switch Online (NSO)]]

* [[PlayStation Network|PlayStation Network (PSN)]]