02Feb 2012

Mass Effect 3 demo offers free Xbox Live Gold access

Shepard's latest gets special treatment

Well this is a bit of a turn-up for the books. Microsoft will give away limited time Xbox Live Gold access to players of the Mass Effect 3 demo.

BioWare announced the coup on its official forum today, triumphant Futurama references and all. "In celebration of ME3, Xbox is pleased to provide fans access to ME3 demo multiplayer for the time leading to launch," wrote the firm's Chris Priestley.

"Xbox LIVE Gold gives you exclusive benefits including multiplayer gaming, member-only deals & previews, and access to entertainment with Netflix, ESPN, Hulu Plus and more."

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Galaxy at War features class- and objective-based shooting.
Specifics have yet to be given, but the freebie may take the form of a code downloaded alongside the demo. It's not known how long the grace period will last, or how all this sits alongside Microsoft's practice of giving Gold subscribers a week's early access to demos.

Did Microsoft or BioWare propose the deal? We suspect the latter might have made overtures. Mass Effect 3's online mode is its most controversial new feature, and one BioWare will be keen to give maximum exposure. Not that Microsoft's exactly amiss to advertising the amazingness of Xbox Live.

The Mass Effect 3 demo arrives on 14th February, boasting online Galaxy at War multiplayer maps, Kinect features and two single player levels. You'll get both single and multiplayer on the same day if you own the Battlefield 3 online pass; otherwise, you'll have to wait till the 17th for multiplayer.

Here are some pointers on how to get the most from it.

oxm.co.uk Edwin Evans-Thirlwell

Comments

3 comments so far...

  1. msbhvn on 2 Feb '12 said:
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    Would that mean everyone would be able to download the demo at the same time, rather than having to wait a week? It's a great idea, since it's BioWare's first go at multiplayer, and it might go some way towards quelling the anger people have had about it. It's just a shame my internet connection isn't reliable enough to give it a try. :(

  2. Bezza89 on 2 Feb '12 said:
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    I'd give it a try with rubbish internet anyway, with some of us forum folk if you don't like randomers. Sounds cool, everyone gets to try ME3 co-op horde thing, should stress the ever reliable EA servers too. Hopefully there's a private co-op mode so you don't have to have 4 players and can get along with 2, or even 1 because when it comes to ME I'm usually alone, it'd be wierd with... others.

  3. CHIEFRAPTOR on 2 Feb '12 said:
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    The missus will definitely not appreciate this coming out on Valentines day...