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As PUBG For PS4 Looms, Xbox Unofficially Responds: Have the Game For Free (arstechnica.com)

Posted by msmash on from the happy-diwali dept.

Unannounced, unadvertised freebie lands ahead of Microsoft's X018 conference. PUBG, the game that kicked off an international "battle royale" gaming sensation, is currently free for all Xbox One owners. From a report: Even if you do not have a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, you can head to this link and claim what appears to be a permanent copy of the game for your Microsoft Account. Timed trials of Xbox One games tend to be exclusive treats for XBLG subscribers. Bizarrely, the Konami soccer game PES 2019, which launched at a standard $60 retail price point in August, is also free to claim as of today. (Here's that link.) Of course, there is the caveat that these games' giveaways could be yanked from accounts by Microsoft at any moment. In the meantime, we suggest clicking first, asking questions later. Update: Microsoft says the games will be free only till November 11.

52 comments

  1. Obligatory by Nidi62 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Something something.....first hit for free.....something something. Or, the razor model: give away the handle for free/cheap, make money on the blades(skins).

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    1. Re:Obligatory by JackieBrown · · Score: 2

      I'm fine for with that. Bling wouldn't be bling if it were free.

      It doesn't actually change game play

  2. It might as well be free by E-Lad · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Given how often the servers are down for maintenance for the PC version during US prime time.

    1. Re:It might as well be free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      which is norm, its scheduled maintenance during the hours that probably have less people on, (although US is big, SEA is probably bigger) plus we know it happens every week at the same time. although it is annoying to me as those are the hours i love to play

    2. Re:It might as well be free by burningcpu · · Score: 1

      Bluehole apologists on /. as well. I don't get this personality type. Do you think you'll get rewarded in the afterlife for licking the boots of your 'betters?'

    3. Re:It might as well be free by E-Lad · · Score: 1

      Here's an idea: Take each of the regional server clusters down when it's not that region's prime time. Groundbreaking, I know, but it might just work.

  3. Subscription Model? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Game requires Xbox Live Gold to play on Xbox (subscription sold separately)."
    $9.99 a month or $59.99 a year.

    So you buy the console, buy the Internet connection, buy the game (or get the game for free), but cannot play because you don't have Xbox live.

    Ba-ah-ah!

  4. so... by BringsApples · · Score: 2

    I bought PUBG last month for like $50. Had I only waited. Kinda makes me hold back from wanting to just run out and buy whatever next game that I want.

    --
    Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    1. Re:so... by fibonacci8 · · Score: 2

      The Fear of Missing Out... on early adoption pricing.

      --
      Inheritance is the sincerest form of nepotism.
    2. Re:so... by Rockoon · · Score: 4, Funny

      Might I suggest Diablo Immortal. This one is sure to totally not be monetized at all with micro-payments of any kind. Honest.

      --
      "His name was James Damore."
    3. Re:so... by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      Yeah. They should never change a price to free or have sales or anything like that

    4. Re:so... by BringsApples · · Score: 1

      You have a point.

      --
      Politics; n. : A religion whereby man is god.
    5. Re:so... by solios · · Score: 1

      If you're willing to wait you can get just about any game for next to nothing. Considering most modern games either come with perpetual updates or a lengthy update/patch/DLC cycle, patience is a great way to get more bang for your entertainment buck.

    6. Re:so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought PUBG last month for like $50. Had I only waited. Kinda makes me hold back from wanting to just run out and buy whatever next game that I want.

      PUBG is over. It is on the way out. The new COD's beta was more polished and 100% better game. Plus all the other COD game modes that PUBG does not have
       

    7. Re:so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh, come on.

      Don't you guys have phones?!?!

    8. Re: so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except for the fact that COD Blackout is pure fucking trash. Iâ(TM)m no PUBG apologist because it has its fair share of issues, but Blackout is a cesspool of shit.

    9. Re:so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is that the price for the XBox version? LOL. It's been $30 since it came out, on PC.

      Gotta pay for that exclusivity deal, I suppose.

    10. Re:so... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a weak imitation, and it too, has it's issues (having to drop the servers to 20 tickrate, lower player count per round, etc.)

  5. Still need Gold to play by Pulzar · · Score: 4, Informative

    Even if you do not have a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription, you can head to this link and claim what appears to be a permanent copy of the game for your Microsoft Account.

    It says right under the 'Get' button that Xbox Live Gold is needed to play the game. So, maybe you can *get* it, but you can't *play* it.

    --
    Never underestimate the bandwidth of a 747 filled with CD-ROMs.
    1. Re:Still need Gold to play by the_skywise · · Score: 1

      So you can "play" it - but you can't "play play" it...

    2. Re:Still need Gold to play by burningcpu · · Score: 1

      Pulzar is correct. I believe XBox requires Live Gold for multiplayer access, and PUBG is a multiplayer-only game.

      Pro Evolution does have a single player component, which does not require Live Gold. The multiplayer component is unavailable without Gold, however.

      Side note - I've got an XBox One and the UI is littered with ads and other distractions. I felt it akin to the Cable TV experience. The stupid thing sits in a drawer, disconnected.

  6. They will go away on the 11th. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a regular thing on Xbox Live for free play weekends and that's what this is. Usually it's when games aren't selling very well they get a weekend free.

    https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/11/07/play-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-and-pro-evolution-soccer-2019-free-this-weekend/

    1. Re:They will go away on the 11th. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Free to play until Nov 11. Proof straight from the horse's mouth [Major Nelson]

  7. Explanaton by 110010001000 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The reason is that PUBG has been beat by Fortnite and PES 2019 has been beat by FIFA 19 and they are desperate for installs.

    1. Re:Explanaton by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      PUBG already had millions of 50 to 100 million installs, at $30 each that's in the billions of dollars territory. They peaked at 3.2 million players in January of 2018 (on Steam, at least) and are down to 800k player right now.

      Fortnite is on every device (phone, console, PC), so it's easier to achieve a larger player base. It might be better made, though. PUBG has a 50% rating on Steam, but that may be due to the constant updats or general jankiness/buginess.

  8. Cheater mess by gweihir · · Score: 2

    I played PUBG for a few hours and in that time I got killed 3 times definitely by cheaters and 2 more times probably (out of 10). I really do not know why anybody (except the cheaters) would want to play this. Git a STEAM refund with this complaint without any problem.

    From the numbers of actually banned cheaters I saw recently, things have not gotten any better.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:Cheater mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Were these cheaters? On Counterstrike high skill players were routinely accused of cheating (even myself). Although if there's a speed hack or something else silly then it is very obvious.

      I never moved beyond CS 1.6, read about CS:GO was some kind of social media and my PC was too slow for it, so I didn't bought it and have not played a game online since..

    2. Re:Cheater mess by TechyImmigrant · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Were these cheaters? On Counterstrike high skill players were routinely accused of cheating (even myself). Although if there's a speed hack or something else silly then it is very obvious.

      I never moved beyond CS 1.6, read about CS:GO was some kind of social media and my PC was too slow for it, so I didn't bought it and have not played a game online since..

      It doesn't matter.

      Starting a PvP game as a new player and being in competition with high skill players or cheaters has the same result. You die early and often, give up and move on to a more enjoyable game. There needs to be a ban on good players, so people who want to enjoy the game can do so. Maybe give them an overachieving_bastard_server option so they can play in a different box.

         

      --
      I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
    3. Re:Cheater mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BlueHole has banned many hundreds of thousands of cheaters, which if you do the math means you're likely to get at least one in every group of 100 players. So likely yes.

    4. Re:Cheater mess by labnet · · Score: 1

      I played a dozen times on my sons computer and found that I spend 15minutes roaming collecting my loot, then bam I die, often never seeing who got me. Gets boring after a while.
      Yes, I suck, but the long respawn times and low success rates made me lose interest pretty quick.

      --
      46137
    5. Re:Cheater mess by gweihir · · Score: 1

      These were cheaters. They did things the game ordinarily does not allow. For example, one was completely unaware of me being behind him for 20 seconds or so and when I shot at him he just turned extremely fast for an immediate head-shot directly after my first shot. Not possible without cheating with that speed, humans are just not that fast. On the rest I got fragged 5 times in clearly legitimate fashion.

      So, yes, I am pretty sure. And no, I do not accuse good players of cheating, even though I know many people do.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    6. Re:Cheater mess by gweihir · · Score: 1

      That in addition.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    7. Re:Cheater mess by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Hmm. I got accused of cheating at Unreal Tournament. One defence I used was that I was regularly killing people that were clearly using aimbots.

      But that was a proper online game, where map knowledge, skill and prediction could outperform reactive responses.

    8. Re:Cheater mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I got killed 3 times definitely by cheaters and 2 more times probably (out of 10)

      I don't play PUBG, but I often hear people say such things when they suck. I used to be really good at Unreal, UT, Q3A, Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy, and got accused of being a cheater lots of times when in fact I was simply a much more experienced and better player.

      If you really want to continue playing, my advice to you is to stop whining and get good. You'll die many, many times before it happens. That's just how it is.

  9. It's for Free Play Days by sirpwn4g3 · · Score: 5, Informative

    It looks like this is not free, but a free trial: https://majornelson.com/2018/1...

  10. Get off my lawn by LordAba · · Score: 2

    Is PUBG some sort of Minecraft mod?

    1. Re:Get off my lawn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not as far off as you think.

      The "Battle Royale" game genre was invented about 10 years ago by minecraft modders inspired by Hunger Games. It's been one of the most popular minecraft gamemodes for most of minecraft's existence. In hindsight it's surprising it took as long as it did to expand beyond minecraft.

  11. Speaking of which by rsilvergun · · Score: 3, Informative

    Destiny 2's base game is free until 11/18/18.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:Speaking of which by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And then Actibungie will again nerf the free version into uselessness, soon afterward. Lather, rinse, repeat.

      Probably best not to waste time on Destiny.

    2. Re:Speaking of which by Cederic · · Score: 1

      Nah, I invested the 80GB of download to take a look and although it's a simple shooter with fairly basic and repetitive gameplay the free version is already constrained in a way that merely cuts off progress rather than removing core elements of the game.

      It's not good enough to entice me to buy the additional content but the free version is a playable game in its own right.

  12. Internet Sensation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    PUBG didn't actually kick off this battle royal sensation. It has its origins in Japanese manga and became realized in a gaming form with an Arms mod. This matters because the folks behind PUBG like to pretend they own this concept and try to sue others for copying "their" idea even though they stole it to begin with.

    1. Re:Internet Sensation by chaodyn · · Score: 1

      Brendan Greene created the original ARMA 2 mod based on the film Battle Royale, then went to work for Bluehole to create PUBG - so yeah, they did.

    2. Re:Internet Sensation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I didn't realize that by going to work for a company, that company instantly owns the right to all your personal life accomplishments from before you started working for them. That aside no one owns any right to a "game mode". By that logic PUBG owes ID for stealing the FPS idea. Which is good because ID owes the makers of PONG tons of back dues for stealing the whole video game concept.

    3. Re:Internet Sensation by Woldscum · · Score: 1

      Yea PU's Arma 2 BR mod. Was a mod of the DayZ mod. Then he did the ARMA 3 BR mod. Then H1Z1 hired him to fix that steaming pile of crap. Then he went on to do PUBG.

  13. Play for free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How's about letting people play online without paying a fucking third party snake? I can't believe that console plebes do that. THEY. ARE. RIPPING. YOU. OFF.

    1. Re:Play for free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And yet some of us don't care because we have good paying jobs. $30-$40 a year isn't going to kill us and we get games in exchange as well.

  14. It's OK, Fortnite is free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess they don't care to hand players off to another game

  15. "..., is currently free for all Xbox One owners." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nope!
    Only if you've got an XBox One X Enhanced.

    I guess I'm SOL with my 1 year old XBox One S

  16. THIS guy, brought to you by Soylent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow you little consumer fag. Imagine gayming in 2018. Suck on this DRM. Suck on these micropayments.
    I'm just imagining what a soylent drinking bearded little bitch you are. Surely you don't even lift.
    Faggy numales like you are everything wrong with the world.

  17. Not only cheaper, but better by ffkom · · Score: 1

    Not being hysterical about playing a new game the week it is published not only saves one a lot of money, it also makes one less of a beta-tester for unfinished software. Buy a year 6 months after release, and have a more stable, more polished experience for much less money.

  18. Thanks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Thanks. I added these to my Xbox One account. I don't own an Xbox One, but someday I will. When they are at Garage Sales for $20, then I will have a game to play on it at least.

  19. "battle royale" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is that what gay people call "free for all"?