Some forum users are even claiming that free online gaming isn’t restricted to cross-platform titles – two posts suggest XBL Silver members can now also play unranked matches for free on games including Halo 3.
The news is somewhat muddied by the fact that Microsoft offered free online gaming to all Xbox Live subscribers over the weekend as part of its Live Weekend initiative, but reports that Silver XBL members were playing online for free both before and since the weekend appear to indicate there’s something more to this story – is this perhaps the beginning of a free Xbox Live service, or could it just be some sort of knock-on-effect from the dropping of Games for Windows – Live charges?
[UPDATE] Microsoft has now confirmed that Xbox Live silver online play is now free, but only for a limited time for online multiplayer cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and PC. Games capable of cross-platform play include Shadowrun, Lost Planet and Universe at War.