Xbox Live Silver Is Gone: Current Free & Paid Tiers Explained

Xbox Live Silver was retired in 2013. It no longer exists. Today, Xbox offers two main membership tiers:

1. Xbox Game Pass Core (formerly Xbox Live Gold) - $9.99/mo or $59.99/yr

• Online multiplayer for paid games.
• 2-3 free games monthly (Games with Gold).
• Member discounts in Microsoft Store.
• Cloud saves & Looking for Group.

2. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - $16.99/mo

• Everything in Core, plus:
• Access to 300+ games (Xbox, PC, Cloud).
• PC Game Pass library.
• EA Play membership.
• Xbox Cloud Gaming (stream to phone, tablet, PC, TV).
• Perks (DLC, cosmetics, trials).

Free Options (No Subscription Needed):

• Free-to-play games: Fortnite, Apex Legends, Warzone, Rocket League, etc. play online free.
• Xbox App on PC: Cloud saves, remote play, game streaming without Gold.
• Local Multiplayer: Split-screen/co-op on same console.

Bottom Line: If you only play free-to-play titles online, you need $0 subscription. For other online games, Game Pass Core is the entry tier.