The man known best as Major Nelson in the Xbox Live community was the bearer of bad news today: Xbox Live subscription costs will be going up in November of this year. The news was met with a mixture of disdain, anger and apathy. Starting November 1, 2010, a 1 year subscription will cost $59.99, a $10 increase over what a 1 year subscription currently cost consumers. Price changes will take place in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom. In addition to that, he issued the following short statement to multiple web sites:
"When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game," he wrote in an email. "When taking into account for inflation… and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers."
A full breakdown of the numbers can be found below, but Major Nelson emphasized that those who renew before November can extend that yearly subscription at its current price. Breakdown below:
United States:
1M Gold: $7.99 (current price), $9.99 (new price)
3M Gold: $19.99 (current price), $24.99 (new price)
12M Gold: $49.99 (current price), $59.99 (new price)
United Kingdom:
1M Gold: 4.99 GBP (current price), 5.99 GBP (new price)
Canada:
1M Gold: $8.99 CAD (current price), $9.99 CAD (new price)
Mexico:
12M Gold: 499 Pesos (current price), 599 Pesos (new price)
Comments
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
Considering it's the first price hike in what ... 8 years? I think it's reasonable.
Besides the fact I live in Canada and (I actually had to check this twice, because it didn't seem right) our price isn't going up from the current $59.99. I guess that's because some of the "premium" services don't work here, the biggie being Netflix.
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
This really doesn't bother me. It's an extra 10 bucks. Sure, the reasoning for the cost may be misguided and is only applicable to certain features, but that's why I drive a gas-efficient car- to save money. :D
Jokes aside, my point is that 5 bucks a month for a year doesn't seem unreasonable, especially if you're using the online features often.
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
"such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect"
lose the first 3, and screw the last 2, (wtf is a last.fm?) cause tbh the video kinect is to gimmicky to care about.
not to mention don't they get huge deals and cash for hooking up the first 3 anyways?
aside from being worthles on a CONSOLE i just can't honestly believe people actually use those features which are much faster/easier to use on a PC.. or at this point also a cell phone.
i boot the console as a movie box (i don't watch reg tv, to many... ADS!! and if XBlive keeps it up i may as well ditch this too) and to play games.
the least they could do is offer an option to shutoff the damned ads and garbage channels i have to syphon through just to find anything worth looking at (such as actual game info.. you know, the stuff a game console is about..)
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
"an incredible value for customers"
Assuming your customers actually give a damn about all those extra features.
The only thing i have ever really needed my console to be connected to the internet is the only thing necessary; to play online multiplayer. This is why i like PC and PS3, because you get that for free... Its only when you actually want a lot of other pointless bullshit, that you pay for the subscription.
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect
NONE of which I use EVER
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
"ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm"
The first three are free for the PC crowd and the PS3 crowd (because of the web browser built-in).
Netflix is already charging people to be able to use their service AND access to use it on ANY OTHER platform is free.
I have no idea what Last.fm is though and fail to see why video kinect would also be grounds for a price increase.
Of course people will still keep on paying for a service with ads that literally everyone else offers for free WITHOUT ads. I don't blame for paying, if they don't we might run out of internet. Those tubes can only withstand so much before they get clogged and MS is obviously doing their best to fund a widening project. Or you know, ripping off people because they are sheep.
Re: Xbox Live Subscription Price Going Up in Nov.
Yeah, there's really no good reason for placing all these other services behind the Golden gates. Microsoft is not actually providing the services and has no real right to charge for them, they just like to shit on the non-subscribers.
Hey, Microsoft: Witholding services that are free elsewhere, delaying demos, etc. are bullshit tactics that only increase my resolve to never ever ever reward said behavior by paying you for a Live subscription. You know what would make me consider getting on Live again? Get rid of all the immature, foul-mouthed bigots, or at least confine them to their own subnetwork.