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Microsoft promotion cuts Gold XBL dues by $10

Xbox Live is widely regarded as the superior online service for this generation of consoles. However, to take full advantage of its benefits, Microsoft requires that Xbox 360 gamers pony up a $49.99 annual fee for a Gold subscription, whereas Sony and Nintendo let users access all of their online...

Xbox Live is widely regarded as the superior online service for this generation of consoles. However, to take full advantage of its benefits, Microsoft requires that Xbox 360 gamers pony up a $49.99 annual fee for a Gold subscription, whereas Sony and Nintendo let users access all of their online features for free.

This week, however, the publisher sweetened the deal for those not content with their free Silver-level memberships. Silver members who log into the service today will be greeted with an offer to upgrade their accounts to Gold status for 12 months at the cut rate of $39.99, a $10 savings. Once the promotional period ends, Microsoft notes that the membership will automatically renew with the standard annual rate (currently $49.99).

Aside from calling it an "exclusive limited-time offer," Microsoft gave no indication of when the promotion would end. Representatives for the company had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

105 Comments

  • hannify

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 3:14 pm GMT

    They should do £15 a year and have silver be able to play online in games for free but some of the advanced features like talking in game should be for gold.

    which would be fine anyway since ps3 doesn't allow to talk directly to a person in game anyway (1on1)

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 2:04 am GMT

    Im a BIG online gamer, therefore when i play R6, GOW, COD, etc,etc, theres simply nothing better than being able to co-ordinate your attacks, have a laugh, tell jokes, etc,etc with your mates whilst playing, with the advent of Party Chat, this is even better as we dont even have to be playing the same game to chat, for me this is one of the main reasons i love XBL, chasing someone through the maps in R6, shouting "He's behind you!", it just all adds to the FUN, something you only really get with XBL. This is just one reason i love XBL, ultimately if you dont like paying the massive £5 a month for it then dont get it!

  • gypsygib

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 7:31 pm GMT

    Why don't they cut the price completely, paying to play games online is a ripoff, even if only cost 9.99. Every other videogame platform offers online gaming for free, Live is a ripoff.

  • X-RS

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 1:53 pm GMT

    so youre really saving $5?
    you get 13 months with the instore box/pack.

  • DO646260

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    Why pay full price when website like newegg.com and amazon.com ALWAYS sell XBL for 10$ cheaper... I got mine for 38.89+Free Shipping

  • Pyroninja42

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 7:02 am GMT

    Good god, people. Please, for the love of God, please stop typing free in all caps. It's irratating.

  • EnriqueMJK

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 5:22 pm GMT

    Yaaaay my xbl membership just ran out a few days ago.

    And to think I was about to go pay full price in the stores

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 5:03 pm GMT

    i dont care about the 360 anymore, ive moved on to the better things in life,such as the PS3. The networks isnt as good as LIVE but its FREE nontheless.

  • Jose_Rizal

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 4:59 pm GMT

    Kyuubi_Vegetto
    Posted Mar 7, 2009 5:09 am GMT -12

    Jose_Rizal

    Oh sorry, I didn't even know that they have online play(sarcasm)? Would you pay $50 to see which nursing home does most sit-ups on WiiFit? Or multiple killing streaks in Zelda?

    Tit 4 Tat Would you pay 50 or 20 dollars for Xbox Live just to hear someone call you a
    Dirty ****** or a *** or call your mom a filthy *********** whore?

    Because I wouldn't, eventhough I've been called a Dirty ****** just for kicking ass in COD 4 on Xbox Live.
    ==========================

    Mute button, genius. Again I ask, would you pay for Nintendo online features?

  • GR1MNIR

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 3:35 pm GMT

    My gold membership just expired a week ago so "yay" for this deal!

  • wrldfamkroq

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 2:16 pm GMT

    I just bought my 13 month gold membership at buy.com for 38.99 and free shipping.

  • Death_Masta187

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 11:32 am GMT

    They need to cut their game prices $10 and make online gaming free.. oh wait im thinking of PC...

  • ldonyo

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 7:48 am GMT

    You can usually find a 13-month Gold subscription card for sale online for $38.99, you just have to look a bit.

  • Triton

    Posted Mar 7, 2009 6:11 am GMT

    I have all three systems. You pretty much get what you pay for. My WII sits not even hooked up. The PS3 is just to slooow and clunky for online. My 360 seems just right. If you really cant afford what ends up being little more than 4 bucks a month, you really should get another hobby...or skip eating fast food one time a month.

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 6:54 pm GMT

    xbox live is alot better than PSN, i can say that because i have both systems and both networks.I like the ps3 better tho cuz theirs is FREE.

  • shii666

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 3:35 pm GMT

    Well, although I prefer Sony, Xbox Live is still a bit better, and with only having to pay 50 a year, how can you complain?

  • DoeJohn531

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 2:21 pm GMT

    I would like PSN a lot more if everybody had a mic. I think the PS3 should start shipping with mics. I can't stand playing an FPS and no one says anything ever. But I do play on both PSN and Xbox Live, and I actually went online on my Wii one time.

  • Kyuubi_Vegetto

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:52 am GMT

    Never said you'd get the opposite on PSN. The difference between that Bullcrap and Xbox Live and PSN like you mentioned is that not everyone with a PS3 has a headset.

    Also don't misunderstand I'am concerned about playing Gears 2 online so long as a dropped connection doesn't mean I have no way of jumping back into the same game of Warzone or Horde which unfortunately happened almost everytime the last time I had Live.

  • pwnzord

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:42 am GMT

    @Kyuubi_Vegetto

    "Tit 4 Tat Would you pay 50 or 20 dollars for Xbox Live just to hear someone call you a
    Dirty ****** or a *** or call your mom a filthy *********** whore?"

    So people pay for XBL just to get cussed out? So does that mean I wouldn't meet anyone but courteous people with great sportsmanship on PSN? Truth be told you don't hear as many foul words on PSN simply because fewer people have a bluetooth microphone that they use when playing. And since the Wii doesn't allow for any voice chat players are left to curse at their TV screen when they do poorly in Smash Bros. (or curse the awful service Nintendo has set up for online gaming). You're not paying to hear foul language you're paying to play games online on your 360. If you're not as concerned about playing 360 exclusives like Gears 2 or Halo 3 then by all means play COD4 on PSN.

    You pay for XBL because they roped you into it long long ago. Sony marketed free online gaming service as a feature with the PS3, and seeing as how they have yet to achieve the market penetration they'd like, there is no reason they will handicap their selves anymore in the console war by removing one of their more unique features.

  • Cabal23

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:33 am GMT

    PC games have always been responsible for their own servers for online play. When a developer/publisher no longer feels the game is viable, guess what...no more online play (unless you are lucky enough to find a user run server that has jacked up settings and is always fullbe cause everyone left plays there, so you can never get it in). Also, games that actually provide the server software to 3rd parties almost never have any sort of cheat kicker...so AIMBOT wins!

  • Cabal23

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:22 am GMT

    @ pwnzword
    "I've gotta ask this to people. If you are a business owner and you provide a service (any service) for a fee (say $50 a yr) and people are paying happily for it and you are making a nice profit, would you lower the price?"

    I can only speak to my own personal feelings but if Sony did try and charge for PSN it would only further push me towards the 360. Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?"

    So you would sell your PS3 for 360, because they started charging for (most likely) the same thing the 360 was offering? I have heard this so many time and it makes zero sense. If that pushes you to the 360, you obviously have other issues with Sony than the hypothetical charge they may one day institute. If SONY starts charging for HOME you will either pay or not play online. End of story.Why would someone who vehemently opposes what one company is doing switch to that company when their company of choice starts doing the same thing? People can be such hypocrites.

  • Cabal23

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 10:13 am GMT

    @ eternity21
    Are you dense or just trolling. No one will pay or XBL? Ok go back to banging your head against the asylum wall.

  • Kyuubi_Vegetto

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 9:09 am GMT

    Jose_Rizal

    Oh sorry, I didn't even know that they have online play(sarcasm)? Would you pay $50 to see which nursing home does most sit-ups on WiiFit? Or multiple killing streaks in Zelda?

    Tit 4 Tat Would you pay 50 or 20 dollars for Xbox Live just to hear someone call you a
    Dirty ****** or a *** or call your mom a filthy *********** whore?

    Because I wouldn't, eventhough I've been called a Dirty ****** just for kicking ass in COD 4 on Xbox Live.

  • jeggers210

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 8:29 am GMT

    You currently get 13 months for 38.99 from Amazon. 2.99 a month for Xbox live. Very much worth it.

  • foodme

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 4:46 am GMT

    im quite fine paying for xbox live because of the quality you get but the ps3 online is still quite good but the wiis and ds online is crap

  • Jose_Rizal

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 2:15 am GMT

    Kyuubi_Vegetto
    Posted Mar 6, 2009 8:59 pm GMT -12

    @ Jose_Rizal

    -snip-
    Nintendo they're #1 in both the console market and handheld market yet made no apparent plans to make consumers pay to play online with their Wii's or DS's.

    How do you respond to that?
    ===========================


    Oh sorry, I didn't even know that they have online play(sarcasm)? Would you pay $50 to see which nursing home does most sit-ups on WiiFit? Or multiple killing streaks in Zelda?

  • Kyuubi_Vegetto

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 12:59 am GMT

    @ Jose_Rizal

    Eventhough what you said is nothing but speculation I still find what you said funny particularly involving Nintendo they're #1 in both the console market and handheld market yet and apparently unlike Sony not only do they not have to play catch up they've also made no apparent plans to make consumers pay to play online with their Wii's or DS's.

    How do you respond to that?

  • Jose_Rizal

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 10:54 pm GMT

    Seriously, do you think Sony loves you so much that they want to give you PSN for free? Its free right now because: 1) They want to catch up with LIVE. 2) Sell PS3 as they are not selling as much as they planned them to be 3) People won't pay for PSN features right now. (Anybody wants to pay $50 for HOME and Folding?) If it gets enough subscribers and/or enough PS3 sold and/or enough features, I'm sure Sony would gladly take your money. All of them (Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo) are business companies with goals of making as much money as they can. I see a fees in the future. So I would suggest stop the bickering, hop on to PSN and play some games and take advantage of it while we can. Just a reality check.

  • eternity21

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 10:15 pm GMT

    People won't pay for XBL if it's not that good

  • Kyuubi_Vegetto

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:27 pm GMT

    I do have correct myself after doing some research

    Legends Of Wrestlemania is available on the European PSN.

  • Rob_101

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:11 pm GMT

    Xbox Live is widely regarded as the superior online service for this generation of consoles

    ROFL, WOW. I can't believe M$ actually brainwashed people into genuinely believing this to be true. Poor suckers... oh well its your money, not mine

  • Ridonkeykong

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 5:48 pm GMT

    I like the way you think, boothiness.

  • boothiness

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 5:02 pm GMT

    i think that Microsoft should still charge for the XBL Gold, however, to encourage people to pay, i think that a certain amount of points should be given out as well. For instance $60 would get you one year of XBL Gold and 2000 points for instance.
    I think thats the best way to do it. Just my point of view tho.

  • Kyuubi_Vegetto

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 3:27 pm GMT

    I find the argument that the Pay For Xbox Live Gold crowd use lacking logic.

    "If you can pay for 60 games but can't pay $50, for a12 month subscription to Xbox Live or $20 for a three month subscription why are you even playing games at or something to that effect?

    I pay $60 for games because I like to play video games I choose not to pay for Xbox Live for two reasons.

    1. Playing my games online typically comes after I've done everything in the single player part of a game and gotten a feel for the controls. So you can pretty much deduce from that statement that it's not a primary reason for why I or anyone should buy or play games at all. Not to mention that I might not even use it all that often, it's basically the equivalent of borrowing a book from the library and not even reading the entire book.

    2. Why give Microsoft my money when I have a PS3 and can play most of the same Xbox 360 games online for free.

    You guys shouldn't think it's wrong for people to complain about MS forcing gamers to pay to play games online especially when Sony & Nintendo are giving gamers the same feature without any costs. Also good luck defending or justifying Microsoft's decision to make certain demos on Xbox Live Gold exclusive Wheelman,Legends Of Wrestlmania,Wanted,Chronicles Of Riddick all on the marketplace and anyone without a Gold membership can't download them.

    Potential response 1: Get a gold subscription

    Answer : Yea right

    Potential response 2 : Just wait a few days

    Answer : Did the same thing with RE5 and some other demo tired of doing this.

    Potential Response 3 : Hop on the PSN

    Answer: Last I checked only Wanted is up there

    FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

  • azzman

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 1:43 pm GMT

    11.5 million people subscribe to World of Warcraft at a significantly higher subscription fee than Xbox live for ONE single game . Xbox live provides a great service for many games. I don't see why people complain about the fee that MS ask for . I agree with an earlier post that if you can't afford the minor fee then why are you gaming? which lets be honest isnt the cheapest of hobbys . collect stamps or something . I don't see how retailers can afford to sell something that has to go through a number of deliveries and accumulate cost by means of packaging cheaper than MS can offer when they are cutting out the middle man! Maybe MS should drop the price a little as they are making themselves look greedy! but whatever they do I will continue to happily pay my subscription fee

  • azzman

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 1:37 pm GMT

    11.5 million people subscribe to World of Warcraft at a significantly higher subscription fee than Xbox live for ONE single game . Xbox live provides a great service for many games. I don't see why people complain about the fee that MS ask for . I agree with an earlier post that if you can't afford the minor fee then why are you gaming? which lets be honest isnt the cheapest of hobbys . collect stamps or something . I don't see how retailers can afford to sell something that has to go through a number of deliveries and accumulate cost by means of packaging cheaper than MS can offer when they are cutting out the middle man! Maybe MS should drop the price a little as they are making themselves look greedy! but whatever they do I will continue to happily pay my subscription fee

  • Tebbit

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 1:13 pm GMT

    I've noticed a lot of people that say: "you pay for xbox live because it is just better", (great reason btw) but what does it actually have these days that PSN doesn't have? In fact, most PSN games have dedicated servers, whereas xbox live is usually P2P, so for gaming, PSN is actually better in that regard.

    Anyone care to enlighten me?

    Oh, and jenovaproject: why do people whine about paying for XBL? because it's like paying for BattleNet. Microsoft saw something that wasn't making them money, took what should be a free platform for people to play the games they just brought on, and charge you for it. It's just doesn't show particular good-will to consumers, and doesn't endear me to Microsoft at all.

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 12:18 pm GMT

    Yea hogaholic that was another plan of mine to just buy one of those cards, but they renewed me!!!

  • hogaholic

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 12:14 pm GMT

    If you watch the Best Buy adds they run sales on xbox live 13 month cards all the time. I got one about 3 weeks ago for $29.00

  • snarple_basic

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 11:19 am GMT

    Damn!!! My gold just expired recently and I was going to renew it after I beat the Lost and the Damned but out of no where Microsoft renewed it for me!!!! I didn't know they did that, I would have totally saved $10, thanks M$ you greedy f*ckers!!!!

  • pwnzord

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 10:41 am GMT

    @ XanderZane

    "Why lose money if you don't have to?"

    Simple, silver members don't pay for XBL right now. The promotion is an attempt to get them to join. This isn't for gold members who would like to renew, this promotion is only being offered to those who DON'T pay for the service.

    Microsoft isn't losing any money by offering a discounted promotion to silver players. You see if one of those silver members bought it during this promotion it would be reasonable to conclude that they were lured by the discounted price. The consumer who once was not paying you for the service now has paid you, you've just made money where you once didn't. That's like asking why any company would every offer a %20 off coupon. I mean if they are already making a profit why would they willingly cut their profit margin? Because it gets customers into your store. Sure you'll have the people that come into the store and purchase one item and use that coupon, but then you have others that make the trip to your business and find other items they want to purchase. People are impulsive and getting them into your business is half the battle.

    "Look at Nintendo and the Wii. No price drop on the Wii at all. Why? Because it's still selling like crazy at $250. No need to drop the price if the system is selling great."

    Two words and a conjunction: Razors and Blades. Nintendo makes little profit on the sale of a Wii (estimates vary from the Financial times in 2007 stating it as much as $49 in the United States whereas Forbes in 2008 said their operating profit is $6). This is fairly unique as most of the time consoles are sold at a loss. Why? Because the consumer now has a product that only operates using your software (at least for the vast majority unless you get into the modding and pirating scene), which is where you make the profit. Gillette sold their the razor itself for a low cost, but gained a long term customer by knowing they would have to come back and purchase their expensive blades to get continued use of the product. It's great for Nintendo that the Wii is selling so well, but I doubt many people will need to buy it more than once. With more and more people getting one they will eventually have to lower their price to try and encourage more long term customers to come into the fold.

    "People wonder why Sony lossed money last year while Nintendo and Microsoft made a decent profit."

    You're correct that SCE "lossed" money last year. But don't forget SCE is part of a larger conglomerate. The Sony Corporation made a profit last year. As did Microsoft, another conglomerate. Nintendo is the only company that deals exclusively in entertainment systems.

    "Sony will most like start charging a fee in the future."

    Doubtful. If you're already ailing, it would be only that much more difficult to maintain your user base by charging for a service you were providing for free. Keep your train of thought that you started your comment with and reverse the idea.

    "I've gotta ask this to people. If you are a business owner and you provide a service (any service) for a fee (say $50 a yr) and people are paying happily for it and you are making a nice profit, would you lower the price?"

    I can only speak to my own personal feelings but if Sony did try and charge for PSN it would only further push me towards the 360. Why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free?

  • puppiemaster

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 9:28 am GMT

    What a bunch of moans, most of the people on here have their games and internet access paid for by their parents anyway.

    As an adult with a family, I don't mind paying for XBL, it's a good service, neither do I mind that the PSN is free, I'd pay for that as well if I had to.

  • Bufta posted Mar 5, 2009 9:24 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Bufta

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 9:24 am GMT (hide)

    Wow - here we go again with a flame war. The absolute bottom line is PSN is better, Microsoft are taking the rise out of millions of people for charging people for peer to peer gaming. People who say XBlive is better are either deluded or trying to justify the money theyve spent on it. ILL say it again Microsoft are making fools of us all...!

  • XanderZane

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 9:20 am GMT

    I've gotta ask this to people. If you are a business owner and you provide a service (any service) for a fee (say $50 a yr) and people are paying happily for it and you are making a nice profit, would you lower the price? I know I wouldn't. Unless people started leaving or the subscriptions started to dwindle, there would be no reason to lower the price, except to try and get more people on board. That's pretty much what Microsoft is doing here. Look at Nintendo and the Wii. No price drop on the Wii at all. Why? Because it's still selling like crazy at $250. No need to drop the price if the system is selling great. Why lose money if you don't have to? Sure PSN is FREE, but it's still not as good as XBox Live. Sony released HOME and it's horrible right now. Sure it looks good, but it's boring and Sony really created it to try and milk gamers for money. PSN may be free for the gamers, but it's not free for Sony. They are paying network businesses to run their servers and services. People wonder why Sony lossed money last year while Nintendo and Microsoft made a decent profit. Sigh... Anyway, people can complain all they want about the fee. It's never going to be free. Microsoft may lower he price if they hit a large milestone of subscribers, but I don't see that happening soon. Sony will most like start charging a fee in the future.

  • Noctobum

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:27 am GMT

    @tidyspidey

    I have both XBL Gold and of course PSN.

    Your comment about PSN being disorganized makes me baffled.

    "What you get for free on PSN is OK, but I find it poorly arranged in the PSN store - for instance, why isn't there an option to just search through game demos? I find it a real chore having to go through things either by A-Z or by category just to see what demos are actually available."

    Have you actually seen the PSN Menu system or have you just started browsing around not reading anything? On the main screen of PSN theres an icon that you can click on saying "Demos" and then the demo menu opens up with an icon clearly labeled "New Demos" as well as searching demos through A-Z.

    It's really not that hard to navigate around PSN. I mean, I've been able to download past demos from several months ago.

    I find the navigation around XBL more frustrating than the PSN.

    XBL is a great service to pay for due to the amount of users online. The PSN has a large community but of course, XBL is much larger.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:21 am GMT

    if you cant afford 3.80 / month (13 months for 50 dollars) you REALLY should stop playing video games because you have much larger issues you need to attend to.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:19 am GMT

    sweet, a week after i purchased my 13 month card... thanks jerks!

  • TheImporter

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 8:10 am GMT

    @tideyspidey,

    Not fact! Opinion! Your opinion, which does NOT make it fact.

    And you know what they say about opinions...

    Opinions are like *#%holes, everyone has one.

    Do you even use PSN?

  • otanikun

    Posted Mar 5, 2009 7:49 am GMT

    Woo 10 whole dollars, now I can buy that thing I always wanted!
    That's just cheap, 10 dollar savings, woo, now I'm rolling in the extra dough!

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