Any progress saved during the trial carries over if you buy
Each weekend, the digital marketplace offers a quiet invitation: try before you buy, risk nothing, lose nothing. This weekend, Xbox Gold and Game Pass Ultimate members can spend time with three distinct gaming worlds — a sprawling sci-fi epic, a chaotic looter-shooter, and a mud-splattered racing experience — all without opening their wallets. It is a modern ritual of trial and commitment, where progress earned in the free window is honored if the player chooses to stay, turning a weekend experiment into a lasting investment.
- A narrow window opened Thursday and closes at weekend's end — players who wait too long lose both the free trial and the discounted purchase prices.
- Three titles span wildly different genres, creating a rare moment where a racing fan, a shooter enthusiast, and a sci-fi veteran can all find something worth their time simultaneously.
- Dirt 5 leads the discount charge at 70% off, with Borderlands 3 close behind at 67%, and even the legendary Halo collection cut by half — real money left on the table for the undecided.
- The retention mechanic is the quiet hook: achievements earned and progress saved during the free period carry forward into ownership, making the trial feel less like a demo and more like a head start.
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection stands as the weightiest offering — six remastered games spanning the franchise's modern history, available to newcomers and returning veterans alike.
For one weekend, Xbox Gold and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play three major titles at no cost: Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Borderlands 3, and Dirt 5. The promotion began Thursday and runs through the end of the week, with time-limited purchase discounts waiting for anyone who wants to keep playing after the trial ends.
The discounts are substantial. Dirt 5, Codemasters' off-road racer emphasizing varied terrain over traditional circuits, drops 70% to 77.98 reais. Borderlands 3, which picks up seven years after its predecessor and sends players hunting Vault Hunters against a cult-like enemy faction, falls 67% to 82.50 reais. Halo: The Master Chief Collection receives the most modest cut at 50%, landing at 64.50 reais for subscribers.
What makes the promotion more than a simple sale is its continuity guarantee: any achievements earned or progress saved during the free window carries over if a player purchases afterward. There is no penalty for exploring first and deciding later — only the incentive of a lower price that won't last.
The Halo collection remains the most expansive offering, bundling six remastered titles — from Combat Evolved Anniversary through Halo 4 — into a single package that traces the franchise's entire modern arc. First released on Xbox One in 2014 and later expanded to Windows and Xbox Series consoles, it represents both a starting point for newcomers and a complete archive for those returning to the series.
Xbox Gold subscribers have a weekend window to sample three substantial games at no cost, with purchase discounts waiting on the other side. Starting Thursday and running through the weekend, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Borderlands 3, and Dirt 5 are all playable free to anyone holding an Xbox Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. The catch—or rather, the incentive—is that all three titles are also deeply discounted for those who decide to buy after the trial period ends.
Dirt 5, the off-road racing title from Codemasters, carries the steepest discount of the three: 70 percent off, bringing the price down to 77.98 reais. Borderlands 3 follows close behind with a 67 percent reduction, settling at 82.50 reais. Halo: The Master Chief Collection, despite being the oldest of the three offerings, receives the most modest discount at 50 percent off—though subscribers still get an additional break, paying 64.50 reais instead of the standard price.
The appeal of these free play weekends extends beyond the immediate cost savings. Any achievements earned or progress saved during the trial period carries over if a player decides to purchase. This means someone can spend the weekend exploring a game's mechanics and story without losing anything if they commit to buying it afterward. For players on the fence about whether a title is worth their money, it's a meaningful way to test the waters.
Dirt 5 targets players who want racing without the constraints of traditional circuits. Launched last year, it emphasizes varied terrain and off-road conditions, offering a different flavor from the standard racing game formula. Borderlands 3, the third entry in its franchise, picks up seven years after the previous game's events. Players take on the role of Vault Hunters tasked with stopping the Children of the Vaults before they can claim the final Vaults left behind by the Eridians—a setup that carries forward the series' blend of action and humor.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the most comprehensive offering of the three. It bundles six remastered games: Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 2: Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4. The collection first arrived on Xbox One in 2014, expanded to Windows in 2019, and reached Xbox Series X and Series S in 2020. For anyone new to the franchise or returning after years away, it represents the entire modern Halo saga in one package.
The promotion runs only through the end of the week, making Thursday the last day to start downloading if someone wants the full weekend to play. The discounts appear to be time-limited as well, so anyone interested in purchasing should act before the window closes.
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Xbox bother with these free weekends at all? Seems like they're just giving away revenue.
They're not really giving it away—they're converting curiosity into sales. Someone who tries Borderlands 3 free and loves it is far more likely to buy it than someone who never touches it. The trial removes the risk.
But 70 percent off Dirt 5? That's a massive discount. Are they desperate to move copies?
Not desperate, strategic. A year after launch, they want to build the active player base. More players online means a healthier community, which keeps the game alive longer and makes future sequels more viable.
What about the saves carrying over? That seems like a small detail, but it matters.
It matters enormously. It means you're not starting from scratch if you buy. You've already invested time, unlocked things, progressed. That friction point disappears. It's the difference between "I'll think about it" and "I'm already in."
So the Halo collection gets the smallest discount. Why?
Because it doesn't need the push. It's the most recognizable franchise of the three, and it's a complete package—six games in one. The 50 percent discount is enough to move people who were already considering it. Dirt 5 needs more aggressive pricing to compete for attention.
Is this aimed at Game Pass subscribers who might not have Gold?
Partially. Game Pass Ultimate includes Gold, so those players get access. But this promotion also reminds Gold-only subscribers what they're paying for—access to these kinds of trials and discounts. It's a retention play as much as an acquisition one.