[confirmed] Xbox Live to remove Gold requirement for Netflix, Hulu


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We can report that multiple sources within Microsoft have been briefed on plans to make a long-awaited change to the Xbox Live Gold paywall for streaming media services.
 
According to our sources, Xbox 360 and Xbox One users will soon no longer need a paid subscription to Xbox Live Gold to access Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming media apps
 
 
Finally!  :woot:

 

There exists no argument for these apps to be behind a paywall.

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Having media behind a paywall is really a bizarre idea when they are trying to pitch it as a living room media device. All of the competition in this space lack this strange requirement... Everything from the Roku up to the PS4.

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Too little too late. No Netflix sub anyways.

 

How is it too late? There are plenty of people who would/will appreciate this if true - both current and future customers.

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Their excuse is that you have to use Xbox Live to connect to Netflix, so you're paying for that, but when you can say that the PS4 has Netflix without PS+, there isn't a valid excuse. It's just Microsoft sitting, being lazy, still used to when they first launched Xbox Live. They sit down a lot, but every time they get up, they destroy all the competition smile.png

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Having media behind a paywall is really a bizarre idea when they are trying to pitch it as a living room media device. All of the competition in this space lack this strange requirement... Everything from the Roku up to the PS4.

 

Don't forget smart TVs with Netflix and Hulu clients.

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Shouldnt have been required in the first place.  Never understood why this did this or why anyone would pay the sub price in order to watch Netflx.

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I have been saying they would move in this direction for a while. I wouldn't be shocked to see them try to offer something more with Gold. Maybe that is just the Games for Gold service on the X1, or maybe its something additional that we have not seen before. Either way, this would just be start of the changes they make.

This should be a cause to be happy, and yet its just met with the opposite, so whatever.

My prediction is that this move will be good and yet net nothing as far as adoption by itself.

Still, its a first step that they need to take to reach the point of an Xbox app store that is tied to the Windows Store and allows for universal apps to be created.

Having media behind a paywall is really a bizarre idea when they are trying to pitch it as a living room media device. All of the competition in this space lack this strange requirement... Everything from the Roku up to the PS4.

media apps that exist elsewhere and have their own subscriptions don't need to be behind a paywall, totally agree.

If MS wanted to offer actual media content, that would make more sense.

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Great news for those out there that have silver subscriptions...are there any? lol

 

I guess I never noticed...as I have always had Xbox Live Gold for the past 11 years.

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Great news for those out there that have silver subscriptions...are there any? lol

 

I guess I never noticed...as I have always had Xbox Live Gold for the past 11 years.

 

Last year XBL accounts were at 46m (thats both silver and gold), so there's multiple audiences to cater for.

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Last year XBL accounts were at 46m (thats both silver and gold), so there's multiple audiences to cater for.

I know Audio. I was being sarcastic. I would be interested to know how many silver accounts there are. That said, I bet most of the people on these gaming forums have Xbox Live Gold, and most if not none would be affected by this change. I would imagine it will affect the casual gamers that have no online gaming desire.

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I don't have Gold for my Xbox, no reason for it.

Makes sense if you don't play online. Great news for you if you use those subscription services.

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Great news for those out there that have silver subscriptions...are there any? lol

 

I guess I never noticed...as I have always had Xbox Live Gold for the past 11 years.

Same here--I buy a gaming console for... you know... gaming. The extras are just a perk. I don't really watch movies or TV, but if I was more interested in those than games, there are better/cheaper options.

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This is true now

 

  • Popular entertainment apps will be available for all Xbox 360 and Xbox One owners. Xbox 360 has been a leader in delivering entertainment experiences for years, with over 170 global entertainment apps and experiences available today. We?re constantly adding new partners and experiences to the growing catalog on Xbox One. Coming in June, anyone with an Xbox will be able to access popular entertainment experiences ? whether or not you have an Xbox Live Gold membership. This includes great gaming apps like Machinima, Twitch and Upload, popular video services like Netflix, Univision Deportes, GoPro, Red Bull TV and HBO GO, sports experiences like the NFL app for Xbox One, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, NHL Game Center and more.*** Microsoft experiences including Internet Explorer, Skype, OneDrive and OneGuide will also be available to all Xbox customers.**** You can find a full list of apps and features that will be available below.

 

http://news.xbox.com/2014/05/xbox-delivering-more-choices

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Hmm, maybe i'll use my Xbox more now instead of letting it collect dust for the past few weeks. Been busy with work and when I get home I just want to kick back and watch shows so I've been doing that on my WDTV instead.

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Hmm, maybe i'll use my Xbox more now instead of letting it collect dust for the past few weeks. Been busy with work and when I get home I just want to kick back and watch shows so I've been doing that on my WDTV instead.

 

Me too. The WDTV is nice once you're actually watching something (and the fact that it will play about any media file you throw at it) but the interface is so agonizingly sluggish that I sometimes don't even want to turn it on.

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Well, you'd think with the date, June 9th, that you know, they'd wait to bring us this news at E3 but I guess not.  Makes me wonder what else they're going to show off besides games, I really thought these policy changes would come at E3. 

 

Having said that though, now that they also have the Kinect-less version coming, I still expect a even cheaper version just for media playback and some light gaming on the side.   No Kinect, no BD drive, smaller overall box size and probably around $149-$199 to start. 

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I'm so happy to see this finally happen.

Now watch as MS migrates the whole app store experience to the X1 so that developers can create games and apps that work across the pc, x1, etc. Laying the groundwork for universal apps.

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Just been reading a few articles and XBL is still required for F2P games :no: Next on the to-do list please, MS :yes:

Yeah, not perfect yet, but considering their willingness to listen, maybe that wont be the case for long.

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  • 2 weeks later...

This is awesome I wonder when?!? I only use my xbox for hulu/netflix so I've been debating whether it not to ditch it for Apple TV or R.

Now that my xbox is broken, I was SERIOUSLY thinking of ditching it, but maybe I'll give it another chance :)

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