https://wccftech.com/xbox-live-gold-not-needed-free-to-play-fortnite-apex-legends/

Microsoft began testing the change last month, and now its official – Xbox Live Gold is no longer required for free-to-play games as of today. So yes, that means if you’re spending most of your time in games games like Fortnite, Rocket League, Path of Exile, Apex Legends, or Warframe, you can now play without that monthly XBL Gold tax. Microsoft has provided a list of more than 50 (actually around 70) F2P games you can now play without Gold…

As you would expect, Microsoft promises the above list will continue to grow as more free-to-play games are released on Xbox. No word on when free Party Chat, which was also being tested, might roll out, but I would expect it soon.