Fulfilling a promise it made earlier this year, Microsoft has now done away with the Xbox Live Gold requirement for free-to-play games on Xbox. Right now, this is available to members of the free Xbox Insider program, but it should roll out for everyone at some point in the future.
Xbox Live Gold will no longer be required for free-to-play games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone. Similarly, you will no longer need Gold for Party Chat and Looking For Groups. Microsoft is testing this change before rolling it out for everyone later on.