Downloading the upcoming February 14 Mass Effect 3 demo will upgrade the subscriptions of Xbox Live Silver members to Gold so that all players can sample the game’s multiplayer before its release on March 6.
The temporary upgrade system that the demo takes advantage of indicates that Xbox Live as we know it is so outdated that it can’t cope with offering users a single demo. The current XBL Gold/Silver division needs to change. After five years of Microsoft’s biggest competitor offering multiplayer for free the console maker maintains what amounts to a $60 annual surcharge to play online. Online gaming is not new or novel — it gained popularity nearly 20 years ago. Even consoles began supporting the function in the Dreamcast era. Multiplayer gaming should come standard with any system in 2012.
