An Xbox Live Price Hike? Pachter Says Yes!
By Jared Newman | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 11:03 am
I should know better than to springboard off the thoughts of video game industry analyst Michael Pachter, but sometimes it’s irresistable. The guy’s got a knack for being provocative.
His latest theory? Microsoft will, over time, double the Xbox Live subscription cost from $50 to $100 per year. Speaking on Game Trailers’ Bonus Round broadcast, Pachter said Microsoft “wants to hook every gamer who has a 360 to play everything multiplayer, and pay 50 bucks a year; and then in a couple of years it’s 100 bucks,” adding that “it’s a profit deal” for the company.
If Microsoft so much as touches the cost of an Xbox Live Gold subscription, it’ll be huge news. Since the online gaming service debuted for the original Xbox in 2002, the price has held firm at $50 per year. And earlier this year, there was a downward trend, with many third-party retailers selling discounted annual subscription cards. The fact that Xbox Live costs anything at all has also proven great fodder for Sony loyalists, who get their Playstation 3 online gaming gratis.
I’ve always felt that Xbox Live is worth the cost of admission, which is less than you’d spend on one game per year. It’s better integrated into the console’s DNA than Sony’s network, and cross-game voice chat makes communicating with friends nearly effortless. Is it worth an extra $50? Tough call.
See, Microsoft is adding new features, such as Twitter and Facebook integration, the 1 vs. 100 quiz show and the ability to watch movies with online buddies, so you can’t say that a price hike isn’t at all justified. But the core service of online play hasn’t evolved much over the years, or at least not since Halo 2 pioneered an automatic matchmaking system for finding other players. Online play remains a hotbed for foul-mouthed sore losers and spoiled winners, and bigger picture ideas such as tournaments and clans are largely missing.
The extra services aren’t worth an added cost. If Microsoft were to inch up the subscription price, I’d probably think hard about what I’d miss with the Playstation Network alone, an then set a limit on what I’d pay for Xbox Live ($60 seems reasonable). If you’re not blessed with both consoles, just hope that Pachter is wrong this time.
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Xbox Live Price Hike: A Higher Cost for Microsoft Says:
August 30th, 2010 at 1:06 pm[…] Jared Newman | Posted at 1:06 pm on Monday, August 30, 2010 This wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Microsoft announced that it’s raising the price of Xbox Live Gold, effective November […]
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Xbox Live Price Hike: A Higher Cost for Microsoft Says:
August 30th, 2010 at 5:54 pm[…] wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Microsoft announced that it’s raising the price of Xbox Live Gold, effective November […]
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Xbox Live Price Hike: A Higher Cost for Microsoft « gamestopmafia.com Says:
August 30th, 2010 at 7:18 pm[…] wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Microsoft announced that it’s raising the price of Xbox Live Gold, effective November […]
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From the "lame" file: Microsoft raising fees for Xbox Live Gold subscriptions | U.S. Industrial News Says:
August 30th, 2010 at 9:03 pm[…] Pachter, the outspoken and occasionally accurate video game industry analyst, has predicted that Microsoft will eventually make Xbox Live Gold a 0/year service. I guess that’s possible, but at that point, Live becomes a significant enough expense for […]
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Xbox Live Price Hike: A Higher Cost for Microsoft | MensWeekly Magazine - Men's Guide to Fitness, Health, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Sex, and Style Says:
August 30th, 2010 at 11:52 pm[…] This wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Microsoft announcedthat it’s raising the price of Xbox Live Gold, effective November 1. […]
October 19th, 2009 at 11:12 am
They have to recoup something back to warrant that recent price cut.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
The bill for my annual Gold Live subscription (via credit-card statement) always shows up at the wrong time (December/January) for me to cancel it (always busy), so I end up just paying it. If they bump it up to $100 I’ll make a note to cancel it.
In addition to the things mentioned, I like the Netflix availability and buying additional songs for Rock Band / Guitar Hero, although I assume this could be done without requiring the gold subscription (the DLC, not the Netflix).
October 19th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I’ll tell you, I don’t see the allure to XB Live. The core functionality is playing online with people not in the room. The PS3 has this. The other things are not needed and require membership with other organizations (some of which cost more money ontop of XB Live) What if you’re not a member of any of those organizations. I see no reason to waste HDD space with useless services. If MS wants to integrate FB, lastFM, and Twitter it should add a competent browser to the Xbox and charge for that instead, or better yet make it free so that Sony will get their rears in gear and partner with Google to add Chrome to the PS3 instead of the shit-errific NetFront browswer they currently use.
October 21st, 2009 at 12:39 am
“See, Microsoft is adding new features, such as Twitter and Facebook integration, the 1 vs. 100 quiz show and the ability to watch movies with online buddies, so you can’t say that a price hike isn’t at all justified.”
I have NEVER used Twitter, Facebook, Myspace or any of those social networking sites. I don’t watch streaming movies (I do have a Netflix subscription but have the movies delivered to my door) nor would I chat with someone online.
Now, where is the price increase justified in my case? Are they going to continue charging me the current price and then charge more for people who use those services?
360 gamers are already taking it in the a$$ with having to pay for DLC (PC gamers don’t). Paying for online gaming (PC and Sony gamers don’t). Having a company WANT to give DLC free to 360 gamers, but having Microsoft tell them to “GO TO HELL! 360 GAMERS ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED FOR IT!!” (The Valve L4D DLC fiasco and again, PC gamers got the SAME DLC for free). The Microsoft Point crap! (Yup, let’s not make a lower denomination that a gamer can buy OR, have the gamer use a HARD CURRENCY like Microsoft does for it’s “Games on Demand”. Isn’t that strange!??!)
And let’s not forget about the RRoD!! OVER 50% of the 360 consumers have had to send their console back for repair!! (me being one of them just recently) And many of THOSE have had to do this 3 or more times!!! And the only thing the consumer get’s for their “time and trouble” is one month of free XBL?!?! Name ONE OTHER electronic (or NON-ELECTRIC item for that matter) in the history of the World that if this were to happen, THAT company wouldn’t have been SUED until they are history?!? Uh, not one!! But not with the gamers!! They have NO PROBLEM forgiving the company that is shafting them HARD!!
Here is the proof. “PER GAME INFORMER” ONLY 4% of those 50% that have had to send their console for repair due to the RRoD said that they WOULD NOT but another 360 console again!! Uh, that is scary! That means the OTHER 46%+ would still BUY another 360 even though they know FULL WELL that there is a 50%+ chance that the “new” console will die just like the one they had before it did!
Now, you tell me if 360 gamers are NOT F’in stupid! Would you buy a car that had a 50% chance of dying on you? How about a cellphone? Or a computer? How about a television that everytime you decided to turn it on, you had to take a coin and give it a flip…HEADS it turns on and all is fine. TAILS it takes a dump and has to be sent back for repair.
Frankly, if Microsoft DOUBLES the cost, the 360 gamers will STILL be on their knees with their cheeks puffed! They don’t care ONE BIT!! Hell, I wished they had as much passion for holding Microsoft accountable as they are for saying the “PS3 suxxors!!” What a bunch of morons!!
November 5th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I’m a 360 user that doesn’t have the other consoles and like most of the people i know on xbl if there is a price hike microsoft can shove it and the console up their **. All the other charges i, and millions of others, are willing to pay is enough. Personally if i wanted to use my facebook i’d get on my pc.