Fortnite is one of the most popular free-to-play battle royale games in the world, and thousands of players enjoy the title daily. The game is available for free on all major consoles, and players can simply download it from their system’s store without any hassle.
But, there is some confusion for console players, specifically those on Xbox and PlayStation, who typically need an Xbox Live Gold or PS Plus subscription to play any online game. While that has been the case for over a decade now, there is a shifting trend in this area when it comes to free games specifically.
As of right now, neither PlayStation nor Xbox players are required to have a paid subscription to play Fortnite. So if all players have downloaded Fortnite, they aren’t required to pay for either PS Plus or Xbox Live Gold.
Of course, if players enjoy other online multiplayer games that are not free, then they’ll likely have one anyway.
PlayStation players have always been able to play Fortnite without a PS Plus subscription as free-to-play games do not require the premium option. This is excellent for casual players who don’t want to commit to a subscription and play only occasionally.
Xbox Live players can also enjoy Fortnite without an Xbox Live subscription, but this was not always the case. Microsoft recently allowed free-to-play games to be played without an Xbox Live subscription, which is big news for Xbox owners.
Fortnite is also free on PC and the Nintendo Switch, so players on all consoles and platforms can enjoy the game without purchasing a subscription.
Fortnite offers dozens of premium in-game cosmetic items, however, so be careful when navigating the shop menu.
