Microsoft Hosting Multiplayer All Access Event On Xbox This Weekend

While Xbox Live is an ideal service when it comes to getting free games and playing online with friends, that doesn't mean that everyone has it. After all, a monthly membership doesn't come cheap, and buying games by themselves can certainly set a few budget-weary players back. But this weekend, you'll be able to see what the service is all about without putting in a single dime.

The company has announced a Multiplayer All Access weekend, which kicks off today and runs through May 21st. This means you can play online with friends in any game they own for free of charge on the Xbox One, even without a Gold membership. "Experience one of the most popular benefits of Xbox Live Gold membership with access to the most advanced gaming network," the company noted in its announcement.

In addition, the company has added a unique perk to go alongside its weekend event – it's offering a free unlock of Minecraft: Xbox One Edition. Players will be able to access this game all weekend, so they can see what multiplayer features it has to offer, with hours' worth of blocky fun alongside friends. All you need to do is find the game in the Xbox Live store, download, and get to building.

Specific times haven't been given in regards to when the weekend begins or ends, but you do have all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the multiplayer features (along with today, of course), including games like Battlefield 1, Gears of War 4 and Forza Horizon 3, in case you haven't had a chance to try them out yet.

You can check out the trailer below to get more details about the weekend, as well as seeing more of Minecraft: Xbox One Edition in action, so you can get a pretty good idea of what it's about. Hurry, this weekend is likely to fly by before you know it – and who knows, maybe it'll show you the benefits of Xbox Live Gold and sell you on a membership as well…even if you have to eat Mac and cheese for a little while.