Microsoft opened seven games to free trial this weekend, with different subscription terms and time limits, as part of Xbox Free Play Days. The list includes productions such as ARC Raiders and STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, but the company does not apply the same access conditions to all of them. However, some games require Game Pass, while others offer timed trials to all players, so it is necessary to check the store conditions before downloading.
Screamer and Family Man require a Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or Essential subscription, Microsoft announces access as October 8-11. In contrast, High On Life 2, STALKER 2, Little Nightmares III and Rogue Waters offer time-limited trials to all Xbox players. The company also states a two-hour limit for Rogue Waters, so the trial period should not be confused with the entire weekend.
ARC Raiders, on the other hand, does not require a Game Pass subscription, so you do not need to purchase a separate membership in this game to participate in the event. In addition, Embark shares a more detailed calendar with players, including Steam and PlayStation access, in its own announcement. According to this calendar, the free event started on October 8 at 12.00 Türkiye time and will end on October 12 at 11.00.
Embark is running the free period with the Frozen Trail update and is introducing a special condition for the Pendola Pass map for new players. New members can directly enter this region and continue playing together when they team up with friends who have unlocked the map. However, accessing the full game at the event does not permanently add the game to the library, and the purchase option remains separate when the trial ends.
ARC Raiders gives access to the full game without requiring a subscription
You can go to the Subscriptions tab from the store on the console and open the Free Play Days collection, and you can also access the store pages directly from the links in the Xbox announcement. In options that require membership, you need to log in with the relevant Microsoft account, so it is important to evaluate the activity requirement together with your account’s subscription. Microsoft also states that you will keep the achievements and player points earned in the event in your account if you purchase the game later.
On the other hand, Embark’s Frozen Trail 2.0 notes also list Bully, Skulker, and Hydra enemies along with the Pendola Pass map. In addition, the update adds Bantam and Stiletto weapons, renews the skill tree and offers 22 new missions that players can complete. In this way, those who join the game for the first time this weekend will see the new content instead of having a trial limited to the content before the update.
But Xbox’s slate of seven games doesn’t add up to a single free campaign that shares the same subscription terms and the same event end. In addition, discounts may vary depending on the country and version, that is, the price of another store does not indicate the purchase amount in Türkiye. Checking the current price and trial tag in the Turkish store helps distinguish which access is free and which requires purchase.