Battlefield 3 on Xbox 360: Xbox Live Required for Multiplayer

Yes. Battlefield 3 (2011) requires Xbox Live Gold (now Game Pass Core) for any online mode:

• Conquest / Rush / Team Deathmatch / Squad Deathmatch (24/32 player).
• Co-op missions (separate 2-player campaign).
• Battlelog stats, leaderboards, platoons.

Single-player campaign works offline (no Gold needed).

2024 Status

• Xbox 360 servers still online (EA has not shut them down).
• Population low (~200–500 peak); expect bot-filled lobbies or long queues.
• Backward compatible on Xbox One/Series — same Gold/Core requirement.
• PC version uses EA App / Origin — no Xbox Live needed.