Xbox has just confirmed (via Twitter) that the upcoming multiplayer portion of Halo Infinitie will be Free to Play. As in no need to lay down next-gen cash to jump into the fight. Not only that but some multiplayer modes will offer 120fps action, for smoother than smooth Warthog flipping. Which raises the question - is this the end of the Xbox Live Gold paywall?

Halo is for everyone. We can confirm #HaloInfinite multiplayer will be free-to-play and will support 120FPS on Xbox Series X. More details will be shared later! pic.twitter.com/9bIrppFiON

— Halo (@Halo) July 31, 2020

Rumours to that effect have been circling for a while now. Especially after Microsoft removed the Twelve month Xbox Live Gold subscription option from the various Microsoft stores. It all points to a potential shake-up coming to the Xbox Live subscription model.

As to the removal of the 12-month option Microsoft confirmed to TrueAchievements that it was not an error:

“At this time, Xbox has decided to remove the 12 months Xbox Live Gold SKU from the Microsoft online Store. Customers can still sign up for a one month or three month Xbox Live Gold subscription online through the Microsoft Store."

Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming service that dates back to the original Xbox system on November 15, 2002. Over the years it has evolved, with Gold now offering online multiplayer and access to free games on a monthly basis via Games with Gold.

Microsoft has still not explained why the most cost effective option has been removed with the one and three month options still available. It would be highly unlikely with Microsoft’s recent pro consumer moves in the industry like free backwards compatibility, free next generation game upgrades via ‘System Delivery’, that the removal is due to a next-gen price hike coming to Xbox Live.

Or, that you need an Xbox Game Pass subscription to play online.

The more likely scenario is that Microsoft is removing the paywall and plans to do so with the launch of Halo Infinite. At the moment Free to Play games like Fortnite still require Xbox Live Gold - and that’s not exactly pro consumer when these titles don’t require PS Plus on the PlayStation 4.

Of course this is all speculation for now but it will no doubt be interesting to see what decision Team Xbox makes going forward. With so many services (Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Console, Ultimate and Project xCloud) now a part of the wider Xbox ecosystem it’s a decision that will benefit gamers.

Either way, free-to-play multiplayer Halo - that’s huge.