Xbox 360 Internet Access: Xbox Live Gold Was Required for Everything

Yes, an Xbox Live Gold subscription was required to access almost all internet features on the Xbox 360, including the web browser (Internet Explorer app), online multiplayer, streaming apps (Netflix, YouTube, etc.), and marketplace downloads.

Why It Was Required

• Platform Architecture: The Xbox 360 OS (Xbox Dashboard) gated all network traffic through the Xbox Live service. There was no "system-level" browser or network stack accessible without a signed-in Gold profile.
• No Standalone Browser: Unlike PS3 or Wii, the 360 never had a browser usable on a Silver (free) account. The IE app launched late (2012) and required Gold.

What Works Offline (Silver/Free)

• Playing single-player campaigns from disc.
• Watching DVDs / Blu-rays (HD-DVD drive add-on required for HD-DVD).
• Playing local multiplayer (split-screen/System Link).
• Accessing already-downloaded DLC and save files.
• Using Netflix (This was the sole major streaming exception; Microsoft dropped the Gold requirement for Netflix/Hulu in 2014, but the 360 apps are now deprecated/non-functional).

Note: Xbox Live Gold has been succeeded by Xbox Game Pass Core on modern consoles. The Xbox 360 marketplace and online services are largely deprecated, though some peer-to-peer multiplayer still functions for backward-compatible titles played on Xbox One/Series X|S.