With a free Xbox Network account, you can play demos, watch trailers, and download apps from Xbox Marketplace. An Xbox Game Pass Core or Ultimate membership gives you access to a catalog of games and online play.
Which Xbox Game Pass should you buy?
The basic Xbox Network subscription is free. Anyone can sign up for an Xbox Network account. If you want more benefits and features, you'll need to purchase Game Pass.
When you register your Xbox Network account, you choose a nickname (a Gamertag), which is how you'll be known to other people online. You can have lists to keep in touch with real friends or new people you meet online that you enjoy playing with.
The free Xbox Network service gives you access to voice chat and the Xbox Marketplace. You can’t play most Xbox games online without a Game Pass subscription, but online multiplayer is available for free-to-play games. You can also use all the various video apps, including Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.
