Pachter predicts $100 'Platinum' Xbox Live membership

By Ironman273
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Grand Master

Ironman273

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Pachter predicts $100 'Platinum' Xbox Live membership

by David Hinkle on Sep 2nd 2010 9:30PM

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The bump in cost for a Gold membership on Xbox Live is just the tip of the iceberg, according to game industry seer Michael Pachter. Predicting a $100 plan as the next evolutionary step in subscription options soon to be available to Xbox Live consumers, he told IndustryGamers reports that while the initial extra $10 "translates to around $100 to 150 million per year in additional revenue for Microsoft," the company will "reinvest at least this much in developing other new applications, and will roll out a premium service with $100 to 200 million worth of enhancements. If they can get 2 million users to switch from the $60 plan to the $100 plan, they'll make an extra $80 million a year, and can keep investing to try to grow that business."

It makes sense: Xbox Live is easily one of the biggest draws of the console and consumers have already shown they're willing to pay a premium for it. But even if Microsoft were to offer a "Platinum" service, what could justify what is comparably such a heftier price tag?

"For all I know, the Platinum plan might include virtual goods credits for various Microsoft games," Pachter posits. "If members could get specialized Halo armor or weapons worth the extra $40, they might be more willing to sign up, and it doesn't really cost Microsoft anything to offer things like that." You know what? We may know a few people willing to pay for something like that.

Source: Joystiq

Grand Master

Yusuf M. Veteran

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Special 'Platinum-only' game items would fracture the community. If anything, it would have to be a purely cosmetic change (e.g. skins for weapons and armour).

Grand Master

Ayepecks

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well I think he predicted the $60 XBL a few months ago, didn't he?

Hmm it seems this Patcher brings bad luck to us :D

No, he never predicted that (as far as I know, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong; a quick Google search said no).

He's been predicting $100 Xbox Live for over a year, though.

Grand Master

Mr. Gibs

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I've got a prediction: Pachter is a dumbass.

Microsoft isn't retarded. They're increasing Live to 460 because people will pay for it. There's no market for a $100 Live service. It wouldn't be worth their time.

You never know. Activision proved that 20 million+ people didn't mind shelling out $15 for 3 rehashed maps, twice.

Experienced

oceanmotion

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I wonder how far MS could push it. The defenders say it's only $0.83 extra a month with the new $60 price. What's so bad with an $1.66 extra a month at $70 or $2.49 extra a month at $80. I think a lot of people will still stump up to play online, that's pretty much the only reason people pay anyway. MS could chuck in a few more useless fluff apps, maybe a discount here and there. Too easy /o\

Grand Master

The Teej

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MS could include netflix/sky subscription, add in some extra streaming (i.e. spotify/pandora - with spotify's "unlimited service", or ITV/4OD player)), a fully fledged internet browser, and 400MS points a month for $100/?80 a year and they can really market it as a proper media entertainment device.

Think about it, you'd have all of the extra stuff you'd want from your cable subscription, which you usually end up paying like ?20 a month for anyway. You'd end up paying ?5 for spotify (a month). That's already ?25. Times that by twelve, and you'd already way over twice the amount you'd pay for a platinum service.

I personally think Microsoft could quite easily pull of a feat like that - I wouldn't mind chipping in a tenner each month for something like that (yes, I'd be paying ?120 a year, but who -really- calculates their finances like that, when you're always getting paid monthly?)

Grand Master

Ayepecks

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Hey, if they added IPTV to the 360 and made a $100 subscription that included it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Now that would be worth it. But unless they're adding MS points to the equation (that equals the amount they increase it by or more), then I can't see any other option being worth it at the moment.

Grand Master

DrunknMunky Veteran

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MS could include netflix/sky subscription, add in some extra streaming (i.e. spotify/pandora - with spotify's "unlimited service", or ITV/4OD player)), a fully fledged internet browser, and 400MS points a month for $100/?80 a year and they can really market it as a proper media entertainment device.

Think about it, you'd have all of the extra stuff you'd want from your cable subscription, which you usually end up paying like ?20 a month for anyway. You'd end up paying ?5 for spotify (a month). That's already ?25. Times that by twelve, and you'd already way over twice the amount you'd pay for a platinum service.

I personally think Microsoft could quite easily pull of a feat like that - I wouldn't mind chipping in a tenner each month for something like that (yes, I'd be paying ?120 a year, but who -really- calculates their finances like that, when you're always getting paid monthly?)

Yup, if they ever created something like this, I'd sign up for it instantly.

?10 premium subsciption to Spotify each month is already ?120 a year. To have everything else thrown in is just a bonus!

Grand Master

spenser.d

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Please post your market research.

I don't need to do market research, I can use common sense and the fact that Microsoft doesn't have any plans to start up a $100 service to figure these things out. Its not a viable option, the niche for that kind of service isn't large enough to make it worth it just yet.

I don't mean to throw out any legitimate research if there is any, but given that Pachter doesn't have any himself, I don't feel too bad about making my own predictions.

Apprentice

Viper550

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Hey, if they added IPTV to the 360 and made a $100 subscription that included it, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Now that would be worth it. But unless they're adding MS points to the equation (that equals the amount they increase it by or more), then I can't see any other option being worth it at the moment.

Actually, Microsoft does offer IPTV for the 360, but only on IPTV systems that use their own Mediaroom software, and only on two providers right now; BT Vision in the UK, and Telus Optik TV in west-coast Canada. Though there are plans to introduce it on AT&T's U-Verse soon though. Heck to promote it, Telus has been giving away Xbox 360 S consoles to new internet/TV subscribers as an incentive.

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