Xbox Live is not getting a price increase, stop the rumors.
Here we go again.Sometime during the week, a rumor broke out entitled, Microsoft to further monetize Xbox Live this holiday. Instantly people jumped to the worst case scenario saying, Microsoft is increasing the price of Xbox Live! Microsoft is not going to increase the price of Xbox Live.
First off, the original story is simply a rumor. Evidence to support this rumor is extremely vague. We have a report that says “Developed strategy to further monetize Xbox LIVE subscriber base that will be implemented for holiday 2012.” Where in that statement does it say anything about Microsoft increasing the price of Xbox Live?
Xbox Live is a business and Microsoft has to further monetize the service for it to stay relevant. Microsoft has “further monetized” Xbox Live since it was originally launched on the original Xbox. That is what companies do with their products, and Xbox Live is no different.
Back in 2010, Microsoft increased the price of XBL by $10, and that small increase caused a lot of controversy in the gaming world. Even though gamers were upset, the increase made a lot of sense. Xbox Live has changed from being a way to game online, to a vast valley of different ways to obtain content digitally. We now have Facebook, Zune, Twitter, HBO, Last FM, and many other services that are provided by being a Xbox Live Gold Member.
Now Microsoft might offer a different subscription forXBL, but that is not a price increase. With all of the applications that require subscription services, like HBO Go, it would make a lot of sense for Microsoft to offer a Platinum membership that allows users access to every service. There is absolutely no chance Microsoft will remove the Gold option from Xbox Live.
The Xbox 360 has evolved into something much more than a game console, and Microsoft is obviously going to have to change their strategy in the short and long term. Gamers need to stop jumping to conclusions and think about how the industry has changed before jumping down Microsoft’s throat.
Source: 4logpc.com
