Last month, Microsoft made headlines when it announced that it is planning to raise the Xbox Live Gold subscription, which is a service that offers access to online games alongside a list of monthly free games. Unsurprisingly, this announcement resulted in backlash, prompting Microsoft to reverse its decision in less than 24 hours.

Not only did Microsoft retain the current price of Xbox Live Gold to normal, but it also removed the requirement of having an Xbox Live Gold subscription to access free-to-play games. This means that players on the Xbox who are fond of games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends can now play similar games without paying for a monthly subscription. One major reason that players subscribe to the service is to have access to online games, but with Microsoft's latest decision, is it still worth having an Xbox Live Gold subscription?

RELATED: The Xbox Live Price Hike Reversal Speaks Volumes of Microsoft

The answer to that question depends on what kind of multiplayer games a player is into. As previously mentioned, all free-to-play online games no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription, which includes titles such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, Roblox, and Call of Duty: Warzone, to name a few. However, it is worth noting that other online games that require an upfront purchase would still require players to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription. It is worth noting that the removal of the paywall for most free-to-play online games is something that PS Plus players already enjoy, which is why this decision is definitely good news to players on Xbox consoles. But now that free-to-play games no longer require an Xbox Live Gold subscription, what else is the service for?

According to Microsoft's official page for Xbox Live Gold, paid online games such as Borderlands 3, Mortal Kombat 11, and more still requires an active subscription to Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer. For players who are fond of paid online games, an Xbox Live Gold subscription is still a requirement. Additionally, the Xbox Live Gold service is still essential for those who anticipate its monthly free games, especially now that Microsoft is upping its game for its roster of Games with Gold. After the company announced the list of free games for February, some players were surprised with Microsoft's selection of games, especially since it includes heavy hitters such as Gears 5 and Resident Evil. The former is the Xbox Series X optimized version of the game.

Although it is too early to tell whether Microsoft will remain consistent with offering quality games for Xbox Live Gold, it is apparent that February's roster is off to a great start. It also appears that Microsoft will start offering Xbox Series X games to the roster, similar to Sony's PS Plus, which began adding PS5 games to the service. Overall, it appears that Microsoft is committed to ensuring that Xbox players remain subscribed to Xbox Live Gold by increasing the overall value of the service by offering high quality monthly free games.

MORE: Former Xbox VP Thinks Microsoft Should Get Rid of Xbox Live Gold