Do you need Xbox Live to play Fortnite?

The popular battle royale is free to play for PC players, but Xbox players will find the online features locked behind subscriptions.
Image via Epic Games

Fortnite is free to play, right? Not necessarily on all platforms. While it’s officially free to play on PC from the Epic Games Store, players on Xbox must have an Xbox Live subscription to access multiplayer in Fortnite.

Recommended Videos

Xbox locks its online multiplayer content behind Xbox Live Gold. There are two tiers to Xbox Live: free and Gold. If you’re looking to play online, you’re going to need to pay for that Gold membership. There are a few other upgrades available, including the Game Pass and Ultimate, but if you only want to go online to play with friends, Xbox Live Gold is the cheapest option.

Sony, on the other hand, does not require PlayStation Plus, the Sony equivalent of Xbox Live, to play Fortnite multiplayer. Similarly, Nintendo also doesn’t charge its players a fee to play with their friends in Fortnite on Switch. Nintendo does have a subscription service, Nintendo Switch Online, but Fortnite remains free to play even without it.

Special thanks to reader Ryan K. for pointing out an error in an earlier version of this post.


Gamepur is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more
related content
Read Article Fortnite Codes (March 2024)
Fortnite Promo Image
Read Article What is The Error Code ESP-DIST-001 for Fortnite?
Fortnite Red Claw skin
Read Article The Best Monitor Settings for Fortnite
The Screen in Fortnite
Read Article How to Reprogram & Destroy Holo Foot Clan Recruitment Posters in Fortnite TMNT
Read Article How to Deal Damage to Opponents While in a Vehicle in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1
how to damage opponents from a vehicle in Fortnite
Related Content
Read Article Fortnite Codes (March 2024)
Fortnite Promo Image
Read Article What is The Error Code ESP-DIST-001 for Fortnite?
Fortnite Red Claw skin
Read Article The Best Monitor Settings for Fortnite
The Screen in Fortnite
Read Article How to Reprogram & Destroy Holo Foot Clan Recruitment Posters in Fortnite TMNT
Read Article How to Deal Damage to Opponents While in a Vehicle in Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 1
how to damage opponents from a vehicle in Fortnite