Mass Effect 3 Demo to contain free Xbox Live Gold

Mass Effect 3’s demo includes access to Xbox Live Gold, enabling all players to sample the game’s online multiplayer. Microsoft will provide a limited time Gold subscription with the download, BioWare confirmed via its official forum.

BioWare did not explain specifics, but presumably players will be granted temporary Gold access via a code included in the demo, redeemable for a short-term period of online play.

Whether this offer will affect Microsoft’s usual policy of limiting Xbox Live demos to Gold members during their first week of release was also not mentioned.

BioWare’s Mass Effect 3 demo is scheduled to hit Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network on 14th February. It also includes a single-player mission from the start of the game’s campaign where the dreaded Reapers invade Earth.

Mass Effect 3 arrives in stores on 9th March for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.