Whilst the remainder still opt for the limited-access free Silver service
An internal Microsoft document has revealed that 56 per cent of Microsoft’s global Xbox 360 userbase pays the annual $49.99/£39.99 subscription charge to access the Gold version of the service.
The remaining percentage use the Silver version of Xbox Live, which as well as omitting online multiplayer gaming also prevents access to some content such as certain game demos – normally for a time-limited period.
The news comes from SeattlePi, though its numbers stem from mid last year before the launch of Microsoft’s rejigged New Xbox Experience – a dashboard upgrade that increased the exposure and accessibility to paid for content.
The numbers also show that prior to NXE, Gold membership numbers actually declined slightly, down from 60 per cent 12 months before.
Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to charging for Xbox Live flies in the face of the free services offered by rivals Sony and Nintendo. Fans of the service say this is justified as Xbox Live is, in their opinion, far and away the strongest online console offering of the main consoles.
Advertisement
Microsoft’s most recent statement on Xbox Live stated that its service has 17 million users worldwide out of a total install base of 28 million consoles.
Comments
No need
As a casual user these days, I see no need to pay for Gold.
Demos eventually move to silver and if not, I can just get the same demo on the PS3, providing the game in queston is multiformat.
As for playing online, Hadn't done it for ages until Street Fighter 4 came along, and given the choice of having to pay £40 to play people online on 360, vs playing people for free using PS3, I bought the PS3 version. And I've very rarely (like, twice out of hundreds of games) experienced any lag playing it either.
Good Value for money
I have had a live sub for about 4 years now and easily get my moneys worth out of it ten fold.
Count me out
Mine runs out mid March, have decided not to bother renewing, as Wii & PS3 are free online.....yes Xbox is way better online, but only if you could be bothered listening to people being annoying, don't rate online gaming as much as a good involving single player option, or splitscreen mode in the room.
Re: Good Value for money
xbox live sub at £40 is a bargain what else could you spend 8.9 pence a day on. most games are aimed at playing online and i still play cod3 every weekend on a saturday afternoon. i wonder how many people have broadband and dont use it everyday but the still pay for it !
i found ps3 network patchy at best however to be fair that might be the area we are in
Re: Good Value for money
I have to agree with Earl, although I don't think anyone actually pays £40/yr.
If you look around you can easily find it for £26-£28 for 13months. (and i am not talking dodgy ebay merchants either)
That really is a bargain.
Re: Re: Good Value for money
Ya i find it great value for money, saves me an awful alot of money as i would end up out chasing women more then once a week lol. I get mine on ebay for 35euro for 13 months and the code gets emailed with in a few hours.
Re: Re: Re: Good Value for money
It's cheaper than a World of Warcraft subscription that's for sure, plus you get to play more than one game for your money.
I was playing SF4 on the PS3 the other night and had terrible lag and disconnection problems. No network is free from problems but I had more lag on 2 player SF4 on the PS3 than I did with 4 player Fifa 09 on the 360, so that has to say something.
As others have noted, you can get 13 months for about £28, that's £2.33 a month... 10 cigs, a pint of beer, less than pie and chips, less than a big mac etc... Sky TV is upwards of £30 a month, hell, the TV licence is over £11 a month and what do we get for that?
Online Pharmacy best pills dfg
http://confluence.public.thoughtworks.org/display/~buy-xanax-no-rx - xanax http://confluence.public.thoughtworks.org/display/~buy-tramadol-no-rx - tramadol http://confluence.public.thoughtworks.org/display/~buy-valium-online - valium http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=buy-ambien-online-without-prescription-buy-ambien-10mg-5mg - ambien http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=buy-xanax-online-buy-xanax-2mg-1mg - xanax http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=buy-fioricet-online-without-prescription-buy-fioricet-cod - fioricet http://connections.blackboard.com/people/50273d6fc2 - tamiflu http://tapestry.formos.com/wiki/display/~buy-tamiflu-winthout-prescription - tamiflu http://boinc.vanderbilt.edu/CSB/view_profile.php?userid=5324 - ambien http://confluence.public.thoughtworks.org/display/~ativan4r5r - ativan http://confluence.public.thoughtworks.org/display/~buy-ambien-without-prescription - ambien
dispersed progresses bedding idukki bindra easiest kalan
Leave a Comment
HOT TOPICS
Xbox owners ‘defecting’ to PS3 31
HMV calms Modern Warfare concerns 28
Modern Warfare 2 already pirated? 26
Activision praises retail and promises fair play on MW2 16
First MW2 pre-orders arrive 16
Tesco sells Xbox 360 games for £3.97 11
EA: PES is struggling 9
LittleBigPlanet sequel looks unlikely 7
Activision: 'Guitar Hero as respected as Harley Davidson' 7
Mama takes on Modern Warfare 6
RELATED STORIES
Microsoft slashes XBL price 3
Xbox 360 Twitter claims ‘incorrect’ 7
Twitter on Xbox clarified 6
Microsoft: We won’t scrap Live Gold fees 33
Microsoft announces XBL Deals of the Week 1
Xbox Live freed up for GTA IV 1
XBLA Deal of the Week returns 1
Xbox Live 1 vs 100 to be free for Gold members 1
Last.FM free to XBL Gold members 4
Netflix eyeing up Xbox Live? 2
ABOUT US
MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by Intent Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets