Xbox Live Gold price increase coming November

[Guild McCommunist]

Xbox Live Gold subscribers might want to renew before November 1, when the price of a yearly subscription to the service jumps $10 in North America.

According to a post on Major Nelson's blog, after eight years' of Xbox Live at the $50 a year price point, the service is finally seeing a price hike. Starting on November 1, a year Gold subscription to Xbox Live will run $59.99, versus the current price of $49.99. One month subscriptions will jump from $7.99 to $9.99, while three month subs will rise from $19.99 to $24.99.

Other regions will be seeing increases as well. In the UK the price of one month will jump from 4.99 GPB to 5.99 GPB. The price of a month in Canada rises a dollar to $9.99. Finally, a year subscription in Mexico rises from 499 to 599 pesos.

Microsoft is running a special deal right now for North American customers, allowing them to lock in a year at $39.99, $20 less than the new rate. For details, visit the deal website.

Jesse Divnich with industry analyst EEDAR sent out a statement accompanying the news, insuring consumers that $60 is still "an incredible value."

"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"

Whether or not $60 a year is an incredible value is ultimately up to consumers. What say you, consumers?[/p]

Source

Normally I don't bitch and moan about Xbox Live and pricing but really, this is stupid. It was already kinda a rip-off before but now we have to cough up another $10 a year (for yearly subscriptions, mind you). I better be getting something neat with this big Xbox Live update.

If I were you I'd start stockpiling those yearly subscription cards. Or just by a couple years of live at the $40 deal right now. At least I have to renew my live before September 26th.

 

[Scott-105]

They better give us a reason to bump the price up like that.

 

[SnAQ]

$60 for a year, That´s $5 each month... Surely you can afford that?

And like that guy said, you do get more stuff in Xbox Live these days, with Twitter, Facebook Last.fm and so on.

 

[Matt140]

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the online play is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

 

[Scott-105]

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the PSN network is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

Uh, PSN sucks compared to Live, dude. I have Xbox and PS3 and I can't stand PSN.

 

[Matt140]

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the PSN network is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

Uh, PSN sucks compared to Live, dude. I have Xbox and PS3 and I can't stand PSN.

Well.. I don't have a PS3 so I can't really do a full comparison, but to me live was never that brilliant, we don't even get a web browser.

 

[Joe88]

you would think they would offers some perks of PSN Plus but nope
M$ just wants more $$$

 

[Scott-105]

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the PSN network is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

Uh, PSN sucks compared to Live, dude. I have Xbox and PS3 and I can't stand PSN.

Well.. I don't have a PS3 so I can't really do a full comparison, but to me live was never that brilliant, we don't even get a web browser.

That's one thing I do hate.

 

[Jamstruth]

Live is a better service but they really should give online gaming for free. Its the worst part of the thing now. Thing is that if they cut the online gaming out of the Gold subscription they will find their subscriptions dropping significantly and will have to put a few more incentives in for the extras $5 a month.

 

[zant]

Haha more evidence that MS sucks. PS3 FTW

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the PSN network is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

Uh, PSN sucks compared to Live, dude. I have Xbox and PS3 and I can't stand PSN.

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon.

Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

 

[Jamstruth]

Something about PSN doesn't work as well. I find it more restrictive than Live in terms of online gaming. Don't ask me why, there's just something I don't like about the Lean, Mean, Fun-Reducing Gamin' Machine. (Not an MS fanboy I just don't like the PS3 too much. I don't know why. I haven't even played my XBox in weeks)

 

[zant]

Something about PSN doesn't work as well. I find it more restrictive than Live in terms of online gaming. Don't ask me why, there's just something I don't like about the Lean, Mean, Fun-Reducing Gamin' Machine. (Not an MS fanboy I just don't like the PS3 too much. I don't know why. I haven't even played my XBox in weeks)

I don't understand....... how is PSN "restrictive"?

Seriously, MS should just give up on charging for XBL Gold basic features. Online gaming should ALWAYS be free, especially since MS doesn't have dedicated servers for its games!

 

[purplesludge]

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace-has a trial version of nearly everything : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)-no clue where you are getting this info
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon-point is they dont have it and no official date when they are getting it.
xbox has deal of the week-psn requires psn gold
Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

 

[Jamstruth]

Something about PSN doesn't work as well. I find it more restrictive than Live in terms of online gaming. Don't ask me why, there's just something I don't like about the Lean, Mean, Fun-Reducing Gamin' Machine. (Not an MS fanboy I just don't like the PS3 too much. I don't know why. I haven't even played my XBox in weeks)

I don't understand....... how is PSN "restrictive"?

Seriously, MS should just give up on charging for XBL Gold basic features. Online gaming should ALWAYS be free, especially since MS doesn't have dedicated servers for its games!

I agree completely on the fact that the Basic Gold stuff should be free.

Maybe its got something to do with my lack of friends with PSN or the very simple, functional (but boring) menu system that Sony implemented on the PS3.

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Haha more evidence that MS sucks. PS3 FTW

How is this "incredible value"? PS3 users get it free, and the PSN network is virtually the same, just by a different company. I'm sorry, but if anything they should be lowering the price, not ripping us all of.

Uh, PSN sucks compared to Live, dude. I have Xbox and PS3 and I can't stand PSN.

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon.

Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

The general myth is that there is much more lag/disconnects/ect... on PSN. I have played plenty of online games on PSN. It's really not as bad as people make it out to be, BUT Live is a small bit better than PSN in that aspect. That being said, I don't think it's worth $60 or even the previous $50 for an online experience that is fractionally better than PSN.

You want me to pay $50-60? Make certain titles for the Live Marketplace free like PSN. Maybe then I won't feel like I'm being financially raped.

 

[zant]

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace-has a trial version of nearly everything : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)-no clue where you are getting this info
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon-point is they dont have it and no official date when they are getting it.
xbox has deal of the week-psn requires psn gold
Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

So your willing to pay 60$ for "trials" (ps3 has free demos), cross game voice chat (like a said, PS3 getting this soon), and a sales (which PSN users STILL get even if they aren't gold. Got warhawk for 15$ off PSN when it was on sale)?

Oh well, whatever floats your boat. I however, don't have the money to dish out 60$ a year for something that should be free.

 

[BakuFunn]

Does Microsoft really need more fucking green?

 

[retKHAAAN]

Glad I'm paid up through December 2011...

 

[purplesludge]

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace-has a trial version of nearly everything : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)-no clue where you are getting this info
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon-point is they dont have it and no official date when they are getting it.
xbox has deal of the week-psn requires psn gold
Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

So your willing to pay 60$ for "trials" (ps3 has free demos), cross game voice chat (like a said, PS3 getting this soon), and a sales (which PSN users STILL get even if they aren't gold. Got warhawk for 15$ off PSN when it was on sale)?

Oh well, whatever floats your boat. I however, don't have the money to dish out 60$ a year for something that should be free.

The trials are free. They aren't part of gold membership. Psn has free demos but not of all the content on psn. Xbox has trials of indie games, arcade games ,etc. Ps3 does not have cross game chat. Saying that it is coming soon does not matter. I also believe that it was going to be a gold feature? Xbox also has sales but they have specific ones for gold users. If you don't own an xbox reading stuff off the internet does not mean it is true.

 

[luke_c]

Gamertags : PSN ID
Um, how exactly does PSN suck compared to PS3?
Achievements : Trophies
Xbox Live Marketplace-has a trial version of nearly everything : PSN Store
Xbox Live (no accelerated servers) : PSN (Sony supported accelerated servers)-no clue where you are getting this info
Netflix Cross sharing available to both.
Cross game chat (voice) is limited to xbox, but PS3 will be getting this soon-point is they dont have it and no official date when they are getting it.
xbox has deal of the week-psn requires psn gold
Xbox Gold - $60 : PSN- 0$

I'd say XBL was better back when the PS3 came out, but now, that difference is pretty much settled. Kthxbai.

PS3 already has trials, whatever Live has trials for, PSN will (Assuming the game is actually available on PSN of course.) What is PSN Gold? Am I missing something here?

Anyway so what you are saying is that you are willing to pay $60 for cross-game voice chat which PSN will most likely shortly be getting (And Sony have already said you will not have to be a PSN Plus subscriber for it.)

M$ really have no reason to up the prices, the only thing that could justify this is if they done what PSN Plus does, offer full-game trials, early access to downloads and free games a month.