Well, we all know that Games For Windows Live, the PC equivalent to Xbox Live is finally turning free. While this was inevitable, the news has gotten me and a few other people wondering what the future of Xbox Live will hold. I know it’s probably a long way from being free, but I can dream. Microsoft can try to take my dreams from me, but they can’t.
Follow the jump to see what I think should happen with Xbox Live.
Currently, there are two subscription levels for Xbox Live: Silver and Gold. Silver users have very basic access to the service, they’re able to access the marketplace and some basic communication with people on their friends list. The Gold users get the full extent of the service, but only for the price of $50 a year. The problem many users have, however, is that the $50 they spend seems to give them really only one thing: The ability to play games online. That was all fine and good until Sony’s child, the PS3, came along.
One of the PS3’s main selling points was that their online service would cost considerably less than Xbox Live. In other words, it’s completely free right now. Some people don’t think it will stay free for much longer, but I personally believe that the most basic of services, namely online multiplayer, will stay free for the system’s lifespan.
Alright, so after the build up, it’s time to get to the meat of what you clicked here and read this far for. With Microsoft’s announcement about their partnership with Netflix, the insane amount of media they have in their marketplace, and with Sony starting to catch up, I think it’s time Microsoft brought some changes to their Xbox Live service. I’m personally not sure exactly where the subscription money for Xbox Live is going, especially with the number of ads both for the marketplace and outside sources appearing on the dashboard, but with the 360 turning a profit now, I think Microsoft should do the good PR thing and let Silver members join the ranks of the people playing games online.
So where would that leave Gold members? I think if you’re paying $50 a year, you should have access to some of the items on the marketplace free of charge. No, not downloadable content like Rock Band tracks or FPS maps, but simple things like themes, gamerpics, and some of the cheap arcade games. $50 for the Gold membership could get you a week-in-advance access to demos and DLC for games, free themes and gamerpics for Microsoft games, and possibly a set number of media (TV shows/Movies) downloads a month. Then, with their new partnership with Netflix, maybe a Platinum membership could be implemented to allow Xbox Live users to get the Netflix subscription through their 360 without actually signing up for Netflix. Just a thought.
So, those are just one man’s ideas. The Xbox Live fee has been in place for quite a long time, but now there is some serious competition. It may be time to switch things up a little bit to make the 360 more enticing to new customers. Also, considering the amount of media Microsoft has in their marketplace, maybe charging your customers for exclusive access to that content would be a smarter idea than charging them for just playing online, especially in light of their latest decision to scrap the pay for play for their online counterpart, Games for Windows.
What do you think Microsoft should do with Xbox Live? Perhaps you’re perfectly happy with the system that’s in play now. Sound off in our forums or in the comment box below.
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19 responses so far ↓
1 paulmess7 // Jul 23, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Yeah, free is cool, but this will never happen because with the RROD, LIVE is how Microsoft is making money off the 360…
2 jctrustme // Jul 23, 2008 at 12:18 pm
The 360 is the last of the current gen consoles that I bought, 95% of my online play is on the ps3 because thats where all my friends are, the other 5% is what is costing me money, its not a lot of money but if I was getting a bit more for what Im paying it would be less annoying.
3 Richard // Jul 23, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Well after you have brought the console for 200 quid, brought the game for 40 quid, and then brought new maps for another tenner. I think it should be free personally.
I guess the thing you have to rember is that Microsoft is still yet to turn a profit on either of it’s XBOX consoles. I think this is why pretty much everything on XB Live seems to cost money.
4 RK1 FaMiCuS // Jul 23, 2008 at 12:49 pm
@Richard
Actually they have turned a profit with the Xbox 360.
http://microsoft.shareholder.com/redesign/EdgarDetail.asp?CIK=789019&FID=1193125-08-11476&SID=08-00
5 Animathias // Jul 23, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Everything on the Marketplace + Ads + Subscription costs money because Microsoft knows they can make $$ off of it. If the PSN continues to rival XBL, they’ll have to change tactics from Greed to PR.
6 Glasspaper // Jul 23, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I think they should keep raping and pillaging gamers… we will pay their fee right?
The reason they haven’t went free is because we won’t stop paying for it. Just like Gas prices. If we stopped using so much, and rode a bike or two from time to time, gas would come back down to a respectable level. (Analogies are fun)
But seriously, if I were a MS company executive I would keep on charging until a swing in members starts to occur. But it doesn’t occur. And it won’t occur. Why should they not line their own pockets? It’s a sad state of mind I have, I realize, but it’s also extremely realistic.
I wish they would give some incentive though. It’s getting a little one sided. I cancelled my XBL account 6 months ago, and never looked back. There isn’t one thing I miss that I don’t get on my PS3 (I know there are features missing, but I never used those features to begin with).
7 HeavenlyYeti // Jul 23, 2008 at 2:03 pm
I agree with everything Animathias said in this article.
8 FlintSteelton // Jul 23, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Gold membershop ppl shouldn’t have to see advertisements. That’s all I f-ing want.
9 patrick1455 // Jul 23, 2008 at 5:08 pm
@ Animathias
Gold subscribers DO get demos a week before silver members.
@FlintSteelton
When the fall update comes out there should be no more ads.
@1 paulmess7
RROD ? What the hell does that have to do with anything ?
10 iBrick // Jul 23, 2008 at 5:32 pm
I’m fine with everything except the ads on the dashboard. Get rid of that shiz.
Maybe a few speed tweaks to bring the in-game dashboard back up to the speed it was at at the 360’s launch.
11 AgentX // Jul 23, 2008 at 7:26 pm
we pay 50 a year we should get more then just playing people online and downloading demos and trials we should get some other free stuff such as well Microsoft are removing all the old arcade games they should give us those for free instead of removing them and much more
12 Schuey19 // Jul 23, 2008 at 8:55 pm
@ Animathias
I think, in theory, you ideas for free themes, pics, XBL games and TV/Movies is great. But here’s where it all falls down.
Themes and pics aren’t the same in all regions, infact some regions get considerably less themes and pics than the US does.
XBL games? I’m assuming we all get the same but it wouldn’t suprise me if we didn’t.
TV/Movies? US gets infinitely more of these than other regions, and the whole Netflix thing is US only!
So if the changes you’ve suggested were put into place, what the heck would I be getting for my £40 a year?
And if I’m getting nothing extra, and I can play for free with a silver membership, there’s no incentive for me to keep paying - so I wouldn’t. And I seriously can’t see MS doing ANYTHING that would entice ALL Live subscribers outside of the US to cancel their gold memberships, can you?
Basically I think you made the same mistake that MS continue to make, which is to treat every region outside the US as an after thought - if that.
13 Animathias // Jul 23, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Sorry about that, Shuey. I wrote this in about an hour with no research and just a spark of an idea, I didn’t think much of it through.
14 Schuey19 // Jul 23, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Lol, didn’t mean it as a pop at you.
Think the idea would be great if MS would get round to treating each region equally.
15 AgentX // Jul 23, 2008 at 11:43 pm
well they are releasing that new dashboard update which looks cool probably by then they will make the live free u never know
16 8bitBass // Jul 24, 2008 at 12:36 am
2 things have to happen before I get really upset about 50.00 gold fee:
1) SONY online catches up and as the SAME funtionality as XBOX live (I am yet to see that)
2) my peers actually get a PS3.
17 S3AB1SCU1T // Jul 24, 2008 at 1:01 am
if what Major Nelson said in his last podcast is true there will be no more adds after the next dash update.
18 shaks // Jul 24, 2008 at 6:57 am
Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade Just Play is like a dream come true. its is in its own league
http://www.ashopping.biz/
19 xNENx tmj54321 // Jul 24, 2008 at 10:39 am
I think it should be free but you should have to watch an advert as you turn the console on. When I watch The daily show online there is only a few adverts but is focused on one product, like the lastest blackberry. I wouldn’t mind watching a ten second addvert in excahnge for my fourty quid back. That seems to be the future with online music downloads also.
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