Xbox Live For Free
For 6 days at least.Published 21/11/2009 at 15:01 by Gastos84
In an effort to promote their online features, Microsoft are allowing all of their members in the EU, on the Silver package, to experience everything they are missing by offering the Gold package for free. From November 25th to November 30th the service will be free-of-charge, meaning those who do not pay for their Xbox Live membership will be able to play online, use Twitter and Facebook, listen to music via Last.FM and join in the 1 v 100 gameshow as well as access to Sky Player, Halo Waypoint and Netflix.
Silver subscribers would normally only get access to the Xbox Live Marketplace.
With a massive UK advertising campaign currently underway, this looks like a very wise move from Microsoft. With all of the features available to Gold members, I can see a lot of people taking the leap and upgrading their subscription.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
skibadee | 21/11/2009 15:02
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3897 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2009
just trying to suck peps in wise move
BlingOnMyWrist | 21/11/2009 15:04
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1484 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Ah, sounds like a great idea. It will probably bring some revenue in, but do you really think it will break even with what they will spend on their ad campaign? I’m sure that most people already know the features of a gold subscription, and there’s a reason they only have silver.
Gastos84 | 21/11/2009 15:07
Team TSA: Writer
3873 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
They may be aware of what’s available but actually getting to use it may make people realise that they have been missing out.
Shlomi1995 | 21/11/2009 15:05
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488 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
Very wise move, will definitely make thousands more subscribe to Gold.
Am thinking more and more about buying an XBOX, maybe the Christmas sales season will present a buying opportunity.
Keep adding XBOX 360 content TSA, this past month has been very quiet and nearly 360-free.
BadBoyBoogie | 22/11/2009 20:51
Let There Be Rock
2689 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
I’m thinking about getting a 360 also, maybe sooner rather than later if Sony don’t sort out all their recent network problems.
aerobes | 21/11/2009 15:06
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677 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009
Wow, A rather lovely gesture i would have never expected! Well done Microsoft. (Mmm, Who doesn’t enjoy forbidden fruit eh!?)
waddo_89 | 21/11/2009 15:06
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485 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Sky have done this before, more than once, which suggested it works. Need I say any more?
hazelam | 21/11/2009 15:26
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3920 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
i recorded a few films when they did their free movies weekend at the end of last month, still got a few to watch.
davidjmclare | 21/11/2009 17:38
always on easy
1094 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
when sky first came out it was completely free and then started to charge, now its well expensive, but yeh… it deffo works
hazelam | 21/11/2009 15:21
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3920 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
might give that 1v100 a bash.
and you get halo waypoint even if you’re a silver anyway, at least i do.
carlosfilippsen | 21/11/2009 15:39
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1316 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Pretty good idea. I am sure a lot of people will be upgrading their subscription.
Paranoimia | 21/11/2009 15:58
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479 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Still haven’t figured out why MS only make FREE services like Facebook and Twitter available to paying Gold subscribers. Should be available on Silver, surely?
Chip9989 | 21/11/2009 17:42
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154 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
because they can’t make money off free. simples
Raen | 21/11/2009 19:39
Team TSA: Writer
3716 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Consistency. It’s easy, Silver members only get the store, Gold gets everything else. It adds even more value to gold.
Paranoimia | 21/11/2009 23:21
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479 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
I guess I can understand the ‘consistency’ angle, but I just don’t see how charging for access to something which is otherwise free gives any ‘added value’ whatsoever.
Raen | 22/11/2009 09:54
Team TSA: Writer
3716 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
It’s all about perception of value, saying you can do 3 more things (Twitter, Last.FM, Facebook) now with Gold that you couldn’t do before on your Xbox, and it’s still the same price does make it look good regardless of if they’re avaialble elsewhere.
Paranoimia | 22/11/2009 19:02
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479 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Fair enough. But it’s a little disconcerting that people apparently see the addition of something that is otherwise free, to a paid service, as ‘added value’ rather than ‘complete rip-off’.
It’s not my intention to turn this into a Sony v MS thing, but just as an observation, I can imagine how much flak Sony would get if they were to do something similar and incorporate the otherwise-free BBC iPlayer into some kind of subscription service.
Chip9989 | 21/11/2009 17:53
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154 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
i’ll upgrade to gold for free but not giving them card details so they can auto renew, i got stung for my friends subscription cuz the lazy arse can’t sort his own card out lol. i don’t have an xbox but have account on my friends, i can’t justify paying for online cuz i just don’t use it enough
JustHonour | 21/11/2009 19:53
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255 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Sorry if I show my lack of knowledge… On the xbox you cannot play online if you don’t sign up for gold membership, right?
Damigos | 21/11/2009 20:05
* Banned *
-828 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009
PS > XBOX
Reaper | 21/11/2009 20:16
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I thought it was only free from the 29th to the 29th as this was the days that the Xtival 09 is on..
http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/xtival09winter/default.htm
Reaper | 21/11/2009 20:16
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25 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Sorry 27th to the 29th..
Deathbrin | 21/11/2009 20:42
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Do the actual loyal subscribers get those so-called “free days”? Are they getting added to your subscription year?
Mick939 | 21/11/2009 20:55
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Or month, I pay monthly but I have not turned xbox on in a bit
iBirch | 22/11/2009 08:12
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240 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Nice move MS. 6 days is better than none at all.
cam the man | 22/11/2009 13:32
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2061 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Yeah, might give it a try.