Microsoft’s next free weekend for Xbox Live has begun in earnest today, meaning all Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners, regardless of whether you’re a Gold subscriber or not, can enjoy unfettered access to online multiplayer for the duration of the promotion. Running until February 19, the occasion also sees Psyonix’s soccer-with-cars title Rocket League and 2K Sports’ NBA 2K17 available to download for absolutely nothing, so there’s no excuse not to take advantage of the offer.
You can’t go wrong with either title, but we’d definitely suggest picking up Rocket League first, especially if you’ve got a few friends over for a spot of couch co-op. It’s a feature that’s often left out by today’s triple-A developers, who see online multiplayer as a replacement, but nothing quite beats a session of shunting balls into a goal with a mate playing alongside you.
Should you decide to pick up Rocket League following the weekend’s conclusion, know that it’s currently on sale for $15, as too, is NBA 2K17, which has knocked $20 off the usual asking price. Good timing, too, as there’s a sizeable content update headed to the former title next week that includes new cars and decals.
If you’re starting to ponder if your Gold membership is worth the annual cost, don’t forget that Project Cars is currently free on Xbox One for all subscribers until March 15. Similarly, Xbox 360 owners get the same deal with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. If you’ve already had your fill of those, don’t worry – with February coming to a close, Microsoft will likely be announcing the March line-up for its Games With Gold program in the near future.