How much is Microsoft’s Xbox Live service worth to you? Actually, let me put that another way: What are you willing to pay to play Xbox 360 games online, stream Netflix, (soon) check out your Facebook page on your TV, and take advantage of all the other services Live provides? Because if gaming prognosticator Michael Pachter ends up being right, you will have to decide how much you value the service sooner rather than later, because a price hike could be on the way.
Speaking with GameTrailers, Pachter explained that Microsoft is making a serious push to turn PC gamers into 360 players, by giving PC gamers “an incentive to buy a 360” by “[putting] something that he really wants only on the 360." As a result of this push, these gamers, especially those who are multiplayer-focused, will ultimately have no choice but to, “pay [Microsoft] 50 bucks a year so that in a couple years, it’s 100 bucks a year. And that’s going up. We all know that.”
While it will probably irk many gamers to have to fork over an extra $50 (or whatever it ends up being) per year for Xbox Live service, by the time the hike comes (if it does at all), chances are Live will be more robust and feature-packed than ever, thereby justifying the price. If Microsoft jacked the prices after the newest 360 update is released, it would be a much harder case to make. Of course, if it’s not going to be happening for a while, it’s simply too early to tell anyway whether it would be worth the extra money or not, but I have a feeling that won't stop plenty of people from forcefully voicing their opinions on this matter.
So, how much is Xbox Live worth to you? If you think a price hike is inevitable, what do you think the next price point will be?
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Comments
Displaying 1–20 of 70
12342
deadclownin
lets see isnt microsoft ahem i mean bill gates making tons of money off the 7 bucks a month 50 bucks a year gold service considering theres what like 2or3 million or more xbox live gold subcribers why mess with that because once the hike kicks in guess what subscriber will click on the downgrade to silver button and leave it at that
Asrugan
This from the same guy who's predicting Natal to be 50 bucks? Yeah, I'm not buyin this guy's line.
yogiboy789
well if the next update comes and they increased the price before modern warfare 2 im going to gamestop and changing my pre-order to the ps3 because i don't plan on paying $100 a year
Mr.Rager
I'd wipe the dust off my PS3 and start playing Uncharted 2 more. Sorry, Chief
almypal
Any sort of Price increase and I'm gone
WestDaniel
First off, all of this is speculation. Second, Microsoft is, believe it or not, a business, which means they are in it to make money. However, they generally do a good job of provide quality for their services, and don't try to alienate their customers. They don't have the cleanest record, but they do listen to feedback on their business practices, and most newer models are much more reliable than the older units. I for one believe that paying for live is justifiable, but to an extent, but I'm not willing to trade it in over something so silly as a live price hike, I'm still going to buy 360 games and software, I just won't be buying live.
Finally, no one is forcing you to buy this, but it isn't 100 dollars, and depending on how the economy is, even they will realize that at tough times no one pay that much. I don't feel paying for live is too much, because the quality is infinitely better than the PSN, but perhaps if anything, a price drop on year subscriptions would be a much better idea. Drop it to 40 or 30 dollars and I'm a customer for life.
Boghound
Typical M$.
vismortis
That may chase people away, if they use the social networking and movies as a reason to hike the price there is a chance that will push people to the PS3 (even more so now that the price is $ for $) What I could see happening is one price point for people that just want access to the marketplace and to play the games and another price for the movies and social networking MS i think knows that there is a large section of gamers that will NEVER use many of the items outside game DLC friend list voice chat and playing the games. some may use the twiter junk but let them pay more for it.
CDAT1AD
CDAT1AD's comment is abusive and has been removed.
Jimi0088
PSN sucks on chiefs salty balls. Live is worth the 50 but I don't know about 100. I don't need twitter, facebook and all that crap. So if they do hike the price then I want an option that limits my features but is less in price.
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