So, Turns Out Xbox Live Is Rebranding to Xbox Network

I'm not crying, you are.

Since 2002, Xbox users have been able to play video games online with friends through Xbox Live.

That iconic name—Xbox Live— is now going to become a relic of the past with Microsoft announcing they are rebranding the online gaming aspect of their system to Xbox Network.

The mid-2000s kid inside me just died a little.

This change became apparent when beta testers noticed new branding appearing in the Xbox dashboard at the start of this week when they tried to upload clips, and Microsoft have since confirmed the rebrand.

Dashboard no longer refers to it as Xbox Live pic.twitter.com/nVf0BQ9ABl

— Adam ‘EvilBoris’ Fairclough (@EvilBoris) March 20, 2021

“’Xbox network’ refers to the underlying Xbox online service, which was updated in the Microsoft Services Agreement,” said a Microsoft spokesperson.

“The update from ‘Xbox Live’ to ‘Xbox network’ is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships.”

Yeah, that is kinda confusing, so I'll break it down for you.

The subsricption access to online play will still be called Xbox Live Gold. Microsoft also added Xbox Network access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers along with a library of games.

Basically: new name, same gaming experience.

Rumours of a rebrand surfaced back in August last year when Microsoft updated their Services Agreement, but at the time the tech company assured users they had no intention to stop Xbox Live Gold.

They weren’t lying, but it looks like they weren’t telling the whole truth either. Honesty aside, nothing dramatic is changing, so you can still play online with your friends.

Fans of the old Xbox Live name jumped to Twitter to have their say on the rebrand.

Goodbye Xbox Live, it’s been fun. Xbox Network just doesn’t have the same ring to it. pic.twitter.com/WuzCXs1rke

— Sir Pauer (@SirPauer) March 22, 2021

I tried to give Xbox Network a cool logo to make myself feel better but it didn't work. 😂 pic.twitter.com/1OnyDzNPi9

— X̷ßƲᕲZ (@Xbudz) March 23, 2021

I must admit, it is a little sad. Sure, calling themselves Xbox Network sounds more professional and aligned with Sony’s own PlayStation Network, but there was something different about the name Live.

Maybe I’m just a sucker for nostalgia.

This change caps off a busy few months for Microsoft and Xbox having recently made big waves in the gaming industry with their purchase of Bethesda and growing speculation that another large acquisition is on the way.

Adding to the rebrand and recent acquisition, Xbox announced that free-to-play games like Fortnite and Apex Legends will no longer require Xbox Live Gold to play online. That’s a big win for fans of free-to-play online gaming.

It certainly feels like Xbox are taking the fight to PlayStation with these moves. Expect more big announcements in the coming months.

Header Image: SOPA Images / Contributor via Getty Images.