Why can't I play free-to-play games like Fortnite on a different console?

IAN MEGAHEY · Jul 31, 2023

I have an xbox console set up in my living room (this is designated as my 'home' console) but I also have a second xbox which is in a bedoom. My account is on both consoles as are 2 other accounts - my partner's and my son's.

When one of them tries to play a game on the bedroom xbox it won't let them unless I'm also signed in on the bedroom xbox. I get why this would be the case if they wanted to play xbox game pass games, however, games like Fortnite and Warzone are free to play so why does this rule exist?

Why can't my partner and son use their accounts to play Fortnite on the bedroom xbox without me being signed in? This means I cant play with them on the living room TV while they're in the bedroom. Am I missing something?

:)

IAN MEGAHEY

Thanks for the quick reply.... I should've said initially that my partner was the one who downloaded those games to her account, not me. Yet it still tells her she can't play them unless i sign in. All she can do is sign in herself, then sign me, then go back to her account and load them. Unfortunately this means I have to stay logged in on the console she's using

StuartATrueRed

All they have to do is download those free to play games using their account, and they should be able to play the games without having to log you in.

Aditya Srivatsa

All the other consoles can play free online multiplayer games but we xbox players cannot , take an example of ps4 they can play fortnite without PlayStation plus but we need xbox live . I know that Microsoft have to pay for the network of xbox live but
think about other consoles , if they are playing then why can't we , even they have to pay for the network but they are giving free online multiplayer games.

Njal the Blue

How come nobody complains about the miriad of other free to play games, why should fortnite be treated any different. Why should you get access to the game features the rest have to pay for.

How do you think the developers of the games listed here https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/free-to-play would feel about fortnite getting special treatment.

PLEASEDCLAW5871

You will need an XBox Gold membership to play any games online. You can also buy monthly XBox gold cards.

PS also requires their memberships to play online games

Except of Fortnite, reason is that they are rising their console profit selling rate by making fortnite free to play without membership

Then why not xbox can make fortnite free to play without xbox live gold membership

Why can't I play free-to-play games like Fortnite on a different console?