New Features, More Money
Announced today, Microsoft plans on charging more for their Xbox Live Gold subscription. On November 1, 2010, games can expect to pay $59.99 a year, $9.99/month, or $24.99 every three months. The reason for this increase is because of all the added features that we have seen and are about to see in the upcoming months. With ESPN, Video Kinect, and Hulu Plus, Microsoft has now found a way to charge more for their service. I understand that Microsoft is forced into the increase because of these new deals, but personally, I think it’s crap!
It may only be a $9.99 increase a year, but I don’t use half of the features that we’re offered. The only two things I use my Xbox 360 for is Netflix for the family and to game with my friends. Video Kinect would be great, if I was getting Kinect when it first came out, but because of all its flaws already, I’m waiting for next holiday season to consider it. I’m not going to waste my time with Hulu Plus for the simple fact that I use Netflix. As far as ESPN, it sounds great, but I lost my interest in the channel. The only thing I watch ESPN for is the highlights and scores, so why would I waste my time viewing it on the 360, when I can watch the show before I go to work. Couldn’t Microsoft just introduced a tiered subscription to please the mass?
The highest tier would give everything Microsoft has to offer on the Xbox 360 (Platinum?). The middle tier would give you access to everything we have right now (Gold membership); no ESPN, no Video Kinect, and no Hulu Plus. The third tier would be the Silver membership. Instead Microsoft is forcing us to pay more while most of my gamer friends, and I’m sure a lot more out there, use only half of the features that are provided.
Here are a few links that will help save some cash before the increase. If you want to get another year of Xbox Live for $40, go here, or hit up and Newegg.
2 Responses to “New Features, More Money”
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Not really surprising when you think about it. I mean come on, were you really expecting to get any of these new features without having to pay for them? What are we savages, get with the times, lol.
To be completely honest, it is a BS move on MS’s part no matter what way you look at it.
I understand the increase, especially if Gold members get Hulu Plus without actually having to pay for Hulu, but what irritates me is that they’re forcing us to pay for a service we may not use. It’s like being forced to buy a McDonalds combo meal when all you want is the burger.
All in all the $9.99 increase isn’t much, but I would have liked to have a choice.