Battlefield 1 Beta Requires Xbox Live Gold on Xbox One

According to the footage so far, Battlefield 1 looks set to be a rollercoaster ride which finds a good balance between historical accuracy and fun. Basing a game on trench warfare is challenging and this is the reason why the majority of developers have focused on modern conflicts or the Nazi regime. Thankfully, DICE decided to revisit The Great War and I’m really interested to see what they’ve come up with. Prior to the game’s release, there will be a beta for the PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 starting tomorrow.

Unfortunately, Xbox One players have to pay for an Xbox Live Gold account to play the upcoming beta. While this isn’t unexpected, it’s a shame and narrows the beta’s audience. Saying that, the number of people who own an Xbox and don’t have an Xbox subscription, especially for a multiplayer-focussed title is probably small.

You will need an Xbox Live Gold account to play Multiplayer during the Battlefield 1 Open Beta.

— Battlefield (@Battlefield) August 29, 2016

In contrast to this, PlayStation 4 owners can access the beta without a PlayStation Plus subscription.

You do not need a PS Plus account to play the Battlefield 1 Open Beta on PlayStation 4.

— Battlefield (@Battlefield) August 26, 2016

I’m a little perplexed by the notion that the online beta access requires a paid subscription on one console but not the other. Both companies have adopted a model which forces consumers to pay for online play, so it seems a little strange to have a different set of rules for the Battlefield 1 beta. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a massive issue, but at least PlayStation 4 users without a subscription can try out the game and then decide if it’s good enough to warrant a new PlayStation Plus membership.