As of November 1, users of Xbox Live Gold will be paying more for the online service. The price of Gold in the U.S. is going from $7.99 a month to $9.99 a month. Three-month buys will go from $19.99 to $24.99, and if you buy your Xbox Live by the year, you'll be paying $59.99 instead of $49.99 annually.
"Since launching Xbox Live in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same. We’re confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox Live Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry," Posts Major Nelson on Xbox Live's official blog, before reminding you to re-up your subscription now, to avoid the new, higher rates.
Analyst Jesse Divnich from EEDAR said his company doesn't believe the $10 price increase will "fully affect current Xbox Live Gold subscribers until late 2011 and beyond, as Microsoft will likely run numerous promotions allowing users to renew at cheaper rates.”
“EEDAR believes the fee increase will do little to impact the positive momentum of the Xbox 360," Divnich said in a statement. “When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99. When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) 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.”
What do you think, though? Will the price-bump cause you to cancel your subscription? Or do you think it's a fair amount to pay?
Comments
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Tim-Miller
well it makes sense to me to raise the price seeing how they have kept it constant since the launch of xbox live. it is a business and at times you have to raise prices to fund new research and new products, and honestly if you have been paying 49.99 a year since the launch.....an addition ten bucks isnt going to break the bank......
turbodrilldoe
Increasing the price from $49 to $59, I think, won't make a difference. We will all pay, like fools. Xbox charges me $59 a year (now), then netflix charges me another $10 a month. Each time I buy a new game, it's $59. Then the $59 a year subsciption...WTF!! How do I get into this business? Maybe we all should become Sony fan boys and amke the switch.
creepshowrick
not surprised at all... its just like microsoft to come after us with snarling, teeth baring faces for every penny... and for what? who really uses twitter, facebook, or the other applications, found on any internet ready pc, with xbox live? doesnt seem fair to bump up the prices with these, along with inflation, as an excuse to grub more $, for online play. we buy the $60 games, buy the incredibly overpriced DLC, some of us even buy the pointless and wallet-stealing avatar items, and hope they would offer us some freebies here and there. but alas, they dont care about our satisfaction. as long as they know we are cornered with nowhere to run, they'll gladly open their hands to receive our hard earned money... i cant help but to think of them as the grade school bullies that beat us up for our lunch money...
MessedUpPro
I am glad I got that 50% off 3 Months deal they had this weekend!
miva2
This just makes MS look greedy.
Increasing the price while the PS3's online services are free doesn't make them look good.
Xbox Live users might get more than they used to but that is to be expected of a service going for a couple of years.
miva2
This just makes MS look greedy.
Increasing the price while the PS3's online services are free doesn't make them look good.
Xbox Live users might get more than they used to but that is to be expected of a service going for a couple of years.
ThatGamerGirl
I dislike the idea of a price increase. I only use the Gold membership for multiplayer online. I already pay nearly 20 bucks for 3 months, now I will have to may an additional 5 dollars before taxes, are you kidding me? It is ridiculous,
Either keep the prices the same, or eliminate the paid memberships in total. :)
If the prices are going up, what are going to be the benefit's to those of us that will pay the extra price? Will there be any freebies, will you eliminate microsoft points? Or will it be the same, just more money in your pockets at a time when most people are struggling to get a job let alone pay extra for entertainment....
corpze11
i think if they are raising the prices that they should atleast add an internet browser. That being that the PS3 AND the Wii consoles both have them.
corpze11
I think if they are adding 10$ they should atleast add an internet browser because even the Wii consle has one and the xbox should have one as well.
XXXSpartan118XXX
Poor kids
ssirc321
why in the hell do we have to pay more money just to play online with some friends, we already pay for our internet, we already have to spend 60$ just for a brand new game, and why the hell is it free for psn i say screw the features for xbox live i didnt ask for them I JUST WANA PLAY HALO.
ssirc321
why in the hell do we have to pay more money just to play online with our homies when p.s.n is free n what not ....i say f%#$ the features on x box live. i didn't ask for them i just wana play HALO. we already have to pay 60 $ for a brand new game.t-_-t
ssirc321
why in the hell do we have to pay more money just to play online with our homies when psn is free n what not .>.<....i say f%#$ the features on x box live. i didn't ask for them i just wana play HALO. we already have to pay 60 $ for a brand new game.t-_-t
ssirc321
why in the hell do we have to pay more money just to play online with our homie's when psn is free n what not .>.<....i say fu%$ the features on xbox live. i didn't ask for them i just wana play HALO. we already have to pay 60$ for a brand new game.t-_-t
maggot4life4
screw paying $60 for live im going ps3 only for online
ajac09
glad I am subbed till 2012 LOL
Liem
Holy %^&* microsoft just follow sony and make it free god not like the system is expensive to make sucking money out of their fans thats just sad very sad
tyler4307
i think the price increase is kinda BS. right outta the box with a PS3 u get free online gaming, a web browser, that u can check your Facebook on instead of having to have gold to check it on live, access to Playstation Home, A video editor, picture uploader and more....all at NO additional cost! and by tacking on an additional 50 bucks a year you get free games and content as well as great discounts. yet Microsoft says they have the best value in entertainment! i think the price increase is almost a way to take advantage of the millions of gold subscribers. anybody who has had the service for any good length of time is gonna happily pay the xtra 10 bucks cuz they wont wanna lose Gold. millions of customers x 10 bucks is millions of dollars more a year in Microsoft's wallet ( even after inflation costs they will have made a LOT of xtra revenue off of the increase) i think that if people dont want the price increase then most of these subscribers should simply not renew 4 a while in protest ( which i know will never happen, so im just blowing hot steam here) if enough people don't renew it will almost certainly force Microsoft to cut of the $10 increase
JohnnyShoulders
I can't believe people are defending this price increase. You guys that are defending Microsoft are so gullible. First the screw job with a new console that should've been the final product years ago, and now this. I'm a 360 user, and I never thought it was right for them to charge to play online. PC users do not have to pay to play online, and neither do PS3. You guys just take it! Its the reason why Publishers are trying to double dip on a used game by charging Used game purchasers a 10 dollar fee.
ColonelCuba
Unbelievable, it's not like Netflix is free anyhow. That's another monthly payment on top of another.
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