Microsoft offering limited-time deal on Xbox Live Gold

March 1 update

The sale is now over. Hopefully you were able to take advantage of it.

Original story

Microsoft's Xbox Live service may be subjected to periodic DDoS attacks and other outages, but it's still a service worth paying for. And now, for a limited time, paying for it is a bit easier.

Through today (Feb. 28), you can purchase a 12-month membership to Xbox Live Gold for only $39.99 from Microsoft's online store. Normally $59.99, this XBL Gold membership can be used on both Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles simultaneously and is pretty much a necessity if you're wanting to play games online.

You can choose to get your membership code via either a physical card mailed to you or a redemption code sent to you via email. Best part of it: you can purchase up to three 12-month memberships in a single purchase, which essentially equals a "Buy 2 Years of Xbox Live Gold, Get 1 Year Free" sale off its normal price. (Multiple membership codes can be entered at in a single session, with each 12-year period being added to the previous one.)

Taking a page from Sony's successful PlayStation Plus program, Microsoft initiated its "Games with Gold" and "Deals with Gold" programs in 2013, giving XBL Gold members free games and exclusive discounts on titles, respectively. While games downloaded to the Xbox 360 through the Games with Gold program were yours to keep even if you let your Gold membership lapse, you have to maintain your membership to continue playing Xbox One titles.

Microsoft and third-party publishers are increasingly emphasizing online multiplayer, with last year's bumper crop including games such as "Titanfall," "Destiny" and "Halo: The Master Chief Collection." This year, which has already brought us "Evolve" and "Dying Light," will bring "Halo 5: Guardians" for the holiday, "Battlefield: Hardline," "Tom Clancy's The Division" and yet another "Call of Duty" game, with a rumored definitive collection of the "Gears of War" series possible. This is not to mention the various sports games that are played online.

Call Star online editor Channing King at (317) 444-8073. Follow him @ChanningKing