The start of a new console generation usually comes with a few changes, but this is a pretty major overhaul. Xbox Live, which has been the name of every Xbox console’s online service, ever since the beginning back in 2001 will be no more. Following a beta dashboard update for the Xbox Series X|S, in which every instance of “Xbox Live” had been changed to the “Xbox Network”, news outlet The Verge reached out to the company for clarification. Microsoft confirmed the name change to The Verge, stating that the change intends to differentiate the general online features of Xbox systems from its Xbox Live Gold memberships.

“’Xbox network’ refers to the underlying Xbox online service, which was updated in the Microsoft Services Agreement,” says a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “The update from ‘Xbox Live’ to ‘Xbox network’ is intended to distinguish the underlying service from Xbox Live Gold memberships.”

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[BlazeMasterBM]

Absolute cringe. Everybody just ignore this happened and let's keep calling it Xbox Live.

 

[BigOnYa]

Me and my xbox online buddies for years have called it Xbox Lame, and prob still always will. Games for free each month are lame, they always suck, and if it wasn't a forced thing for online play, I would not have it anyways.

 

[MeAndHax]

But it will still be called Xbox Live Gold? Wtf

 

[HarveyHouston]

That name change makes it sound old. I actually prefer the "Live" in the name. "Network" makes me think of...

...Or even ARPANET!

 

[MetallicKaiser]

A name change isn't inherently a bad thing, but there were definitely better names to choose from.
This new one comes off as a little generic.

 

[DinohScene]

I'll be calling it XBL till I die I guess..

 

[Deleted User]

Boring and pointless change. Xbox Live atleast stoodout from the rest. XBox Network? Bland.

 

[tech3475]

Either they’e planning something or someone was desperate to justify their paycheque.

 

[ZeroT21]

Keeping up some degree of hype about their services do make these companies think they are relevant to our lives...probably

 

[jumpman17]

Don't worry, Microsoft will change it again in a couple years, just like they do their studio name.

Microsoft Games
Microsoft Game Studios
Microsoft Studios
Xbox Game Studios

 

[wiindsurf]

Well, that's better than Xbox Home Vista 365 Millennium Series Service

 

[StrayGuitarist]

.... Why? Seriously, "Xbox Live" was such an iconic name. I have a feeling this'll just cause more confusion than it'll actually clear up, while simultaneously removing any and all brand recognition.

 

[D34DL1N3R]

xbox live really turned out to be garbage for once being the undisputed king with og xbox and 360 and arguably some of xbox one's life.

Can get PSN easily for half that, and PS+ is pretty cool. it's no gamepass, but its not priced at that either

Undisputed? I dispute. Xbox lost all three of those "console wars". As far as PS+, it's not the proper comparison to GamePass, that would be PSNow. Which imo is the superior offering as it has tons more titles that I personally would play.


About the article, it seems a lot of people aren't realizing that the XBN is going to be the name for all general things that don't require a subscription. Xbox Live Gold is still going to be a thing, on the XBN. A dumb and unnecessary move? Yup. Every bit as dumb as their Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X naming nonsense. Why aren't they going to call it Xbox Network Gold instead?

Edit: Funny enough, I forgot to mention that the Xbox app hasn't been working for me correctly since I got up a couple hours ago. It won't display the "All Games" or "Installed Games" sections for me. Just an error message "Looks like you're stranded"

 

[rad140]

I never gave it much thought, but Xbox Live was the last living brand from the Microsoft Live era, damn.

Kinda surprised they haven't changed it since now. I have a (very old) t-shirt from a Microsoft convention about Microsoft Live - "Live is good"

 

[CrossOut]

The obvious name change is becasue of the cloud gaming serice and since that is a slightly differnet thing in terms of its name they wanted to think of an all in one name for both. So id say that Xbox live is still that since its on Xbox and the cloud gaming service is added to that and thus the Xbox Network was born. Also i like that is doesnt have a terrible name like the Xbox consoles. Imagine the Xbox series x 360 network, what an awful name that would be haha.

 

[playstays_shun]

Undisputed? I dispute. Xbox lost all three of those "console wars". As far as PS+, it's not the proper comparison to GamePass, that would be PSNow. Which imo is the superior offering as it has tons more titles that I personally would play.

to clarify im not stating og xbox and 360 were the 'console winners,' that Xbox live service itself was at the time. Back then, it was a worthwhile upgrade worth spending money on for unified online gaming experience and management, unlike haphazardly developer hosted dependent online setups with ps3 and ps2 fun online experiences (SOCOM especially) but inconsistent QoL for online in general on the platform, and nothing unifying about it, ranging from really horrendous+unusable to not half bad. Though the price is always nice, free.

 

[grey72]

Why would you go out of your way to genericise a recognisable brand name?

 

[ZeroFX]

playstation network, xbox network, now we need nintendo network.

 

[D34DL1N3R]

to clarify im not stating og xbox and 360 were the 'console winners,' that Xbox live service itself was at the time. Back then, it was a worthwhile upgrade worth spending money on for unified online gaming experience and management, unlike haphazardly developer hosted dependent online setups with ps3 and ps2 fun online experiences (SOCOM especially) but inconsistent QoL for online in general on the platform, and nothing unifying about it, ranging from really horrendous+unusable to not half bad. Though the price is always nice, free.

Care to give some examples of why you feel XB's online services were superior to Sonys? I seem to have never had any complaints. Imo you're over exaggerating.

 

[playstays_shun]

Care to give some examples of why you feel XB's online services were superior to Sonys? I seem to have never had any complaints. Imo you're over exaggerating.

dedicated servers was the big one. When devs had to foot the bill there was some skimping in performance and reliability. That’s all I can think of. I can’t recall specific latency numbers or titles back in the day