The internet has been stirred up about the possibility of Xbox dropping Xbox Live Gold and maybe even making multiplayer gaming on Xbox free. Up until now, there's been no official comment on the matter from Xbox, but the company has since decided silence wasn't working out. A Microsoft spokesperson recently stated that there are "no changes being made to [...] Xbox Live Gold." And further, that Microsoft has "no plans to discontinue Xbox Live Gold at this time."
Microsoft made these official comments in a statement issued to The Verge, which had asked about recent changes to the Microsoft Services Agreement. Namely, some interesting language about Xbox online services which some had interpreted as a rebranding. In fact, it was just a legalese term for Xbox services including cross-saves and friend requests, intended to differentiate those features from the Xbox Live Gold subscription itself.
If Microsoft had said "no comment" or had something equally ambiguous to say, there'd be more room for speculation. However, that Microsoft said it has "no plans" is a rather clear repudiation of the rumor. Microsoft didn't pull any punches. If Xbox Live Gold is planned to be made free or discontinued, Microsoft's not going to provide any direct hints.
That doesn't mean that it isn't true, of course. The history of company representatives stating one thing and then doing the exact opposite is rich. Up until Microsoft makes an official announcement, it's certain to say the opposite. In other words, Xbox fans are left in the same position as they were before Microsoft issued a statement. The rumors still stand, but nothing's certain until Microsoft confirms it.
The most substantial contributory evidence is Microsoft removing 12-month subscriptions for Xbox Live Gold from its storefronts. The removal has never been fully explained. It makes sense, however, with the understanding that people would be paying for a service that would no longer be supported. Microsoft would simply be protecting its legal interests, as well as its users.
The rumor also appears to have been confirmed by Venture Beat reporter Jeff Grubb. Grubb explicitly said on Twitter that Xbox Live Gold "is going away" and that online multiplayer will be free. Grubb describes how access drives engagement and Xbox sees the cost of Xbox Live Gold as prehibitive. Fortnite's free-to-play structure is referenced as an example. Considering Microsoft is already making Halo Infinite's multiplayer free-to-play, it's clear the company understands this very well. Now Xbox just needs to follow through, regardless of what it says.
Source: The Verge