2 million Xbox Live users Facebooked, a-Twitter

Microsoft announces around 10% of its subscribers log onto social networks during first week of 360 integration; 1 million check out Last.fm, 1.7 million peruse Zune video store.

Last Tuesday, Microsoft launched its much-ballyhooed Fall Xbox Live Update, which now includes access to Facebook and Twitter for Gold-level subscribers.

XBL Gold subscribers can now Twitter about Facebooking on Xbox Live.

One week later, the company announced that nearly 2 million subscribers have either logged onto the social network or the micro-blogging service through the Xbox 360's online component. That's nearly 10 percent of Xbox Live's entire subscriber base of around 20 million, which was recently pruned by a controversial mass banning of modded consoles. Microsoft does not release figures for how many people pay at least $50 a year for an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

With Facebook recently arriving on the rival PlayStation 3 console, Microsoft was keen to point out the other services the Fall Xbox Live Update added to Xbox Live dashboard. One was Internet radio site Last.fm, which is owned by GameSpot parent company CBS Interactive. According to Microsoft, about 1 million XBL Gold subscribers have created new profiles for the service, which selects streaming programming based on a user's favorite bands. The company said over 120 million minutes have been streamed thus far, with an average listening session of about 40 minutes.

Zune and Last.fm are proving popular, says Microsoft.

Finally, Microsoft said the past week saw some 1.7 million Gold and Silver XBL subscribers visit Xbox Live's video marketplace. The store, which is now branded after Microsoft's Zune multimedia player, offers films in both 1080p high definition and standard definition. (Previously, HD videos were only 720p, and not all HD videos will be offered in 1080p.) Selected HD and SD videos are now available for both download and via "instant-on" streaming similar to that of Netflix. However, streaming instant-on HD video will require a 4mbps broadband connection and a HDCP-compliant 1080p display connected to the 360 with an HDMI cable.

150 Comments

  • RedToFire

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 8:52 pm PT

    Facebook, Twitter, Zune, and Last.fm: the only thing missing is an internet browser. Then I wouldn't need to even have a PC.

  • Frosty192

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 1:02 pm PT

    WOW sucks play a new game that is actually worth your money and doesnt have 1998 graphics anyways i dont see why this is only available for gold members...oh well whatev

  • NinoSwaG

    Posted Nov 30, 2009 6:05 am PT

    First of all. if someone wants to use facebook or twitter use it on pc. second if xbox pulls out facebook and twitter where is myspace???

  • masterchief46

    Posted Nov 29, 2009 7:29 am PT

    I guess people are "too poor" to afford a PC. I would honestly get a PC before an xbox. World of Warcraft is a much better game than any console game.

  • kuda001

    Posted Nov 29, 2009 4:33 am PT

    Pointless...why?...use a PC...that's why. The Zune update is the only thing that makes sense.

  • buft

    Posted Nov 28, 2009 5:02 pm PT

    great update on both consoles but microsoft have the social network edge right now in my eyes

  • lil_z_95

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 8:23 pm PT

    time for me to start getting free xbl gold cards so i can do these new things anybody want any i can help you out to

  • dRuGGeRnaUt

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 3:59 pm PT

    Rangeraa: "facebook on xbox is completely stupid! "yes lets all go buy $30 keyboards that clip into our controllers with buttons so close you can't hit the ones you want unless you have the hands of a 2-year old"

    dRuGGeRnaUt: "The fingers you have used to dial, are too fat. Please mash the keypad with your palm to obtain a dialing wand."

    On the topic of facebook on xbox live. Yes its features are limited, but what did you expect, look at all of the crap that comes from using facebook on your computer, do you want that happening to your xbox?

    and what i don't understand is it says only 1.7 mill went on the zune marketplace. I don't know about everyone else, but i can't get to the "old" video market place, it forces me to use zune market place which takes up to 10 - 20 secs to loads sometimes. Boo to this interface.

    Last.fm: didn't get it in canada.. so until the day my governments crtc gets its head out of its high-horse ***, I won't be able to use it.

  • Yokuz1166

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 11:40 am PT

    Last.fm is good, but it would be great if you could listen while playing. I hope they implement that feature soon. Facebook is pretty much useless. I like how they're trying to organize everything with Zune, but they still need to do a little more.

  • marshin7

    Posted Nov 27, 2009 9:59 am PT

    the facebook is preatty useless. all you can really do is uppdate your status and comment on some pics

  • dresdek

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 3:08 pm PT

    when will the consoles just become a pc already?

  • guyguyguy1234

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 6:11 am PT

    Facebook is okay. Just another place to update your status really.

  • gibson-les-rick

    Posted Nov 26, 2009 4:04 am PT

    someone made a point about not poking people, yes facebook on the xbox is indeed crap, also i get the feeling that consoles are becoming more and more like computers

  • Frosty192

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 10:22 pm PT

    ps3 had this before xbox.....anyways kinda gay to have this only for gold members..just another way microsoft trys to take over the world oh well..better just dust off the good ol 360 and sell it

  • P0T

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:39 pm PT

    It's cool all of the Sony people are so interested in this. I love Sony fans obsession with Xbox. We thank you for your interest!
    Complaining about added features is the epitome of the entitlement generation.

  • Asemco

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:23 pm PT

    @ rangeraa: Or, I can have party mode, watch the movie with my friends, and eat my own damn popcorn and drinks.

  • UltimateRAGEX

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:39 pm PT

    facebook on the xbox is crap! you can't even poke people!

  • X-RS

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 6:34 pm PT

    id like to be able to copy tracks from my zune onto the 360 harddrive.
    kinda seems a given you know?

  • darkangel494

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 3:23 pm PT

    @rangeraa

    Firstly plug a normal keyboard into the USB port, secondly I have a lot of my real life friends on my friend list so one day it might come in handy.

  • rangeraa posted Nov 25, 2009 2:32 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    rangeraa

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 2:32 pm PT (hide)

    DarthEthong467

    You are a moron and xbox live won't miss you. oh and the party feature is for people who have no "real" friends to actually come to their house and watch the video! because you could, in fact, invite people over and watch the movie without having to buy it for everyone. you kids crack me up with your stupidity

  • imaidiot

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    @DarthEthong467

    Don't get your panties in a wad, or should I say, Thong. I was just making a joke. Like every other person who is under 18 out there, just put a different year for your birthday...What do you do when Gamespot asks you your birthday when you want to watch an M rated video? Put in your real one and then say 'Oh Blast, it still won't let me...maybe next time'...Change the year, its not like they do a background check on you! If you want to go back to PC gaming then go for it, but you don't have to bad mouth xbox just because of age restrictions!

  • DarthEthong467

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:45 pm PT

    @imaidiot

    Wow, don't be such an @$$.

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:44 pm PT

    I like and use the Netflix feature on my xbox, but I have no interest in either of these.

  • imaidiot

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 12:02 pm PT

    @DarthEthong467

    Sorry, you have to be over 18 to make comments on gamespot too, sorry, you are just out of luck.

  • DarthEthong467

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 11:51 am PT

    Wow, I really thought this would be a great update and that the features might actually redeem the subscription fees me and 20 million other people have to pay year round. But then I find out I can't use either the Facebook or the Last.fm features because I'm under 18??? Even though I have an account on BOTH of those sites! And the Zune Video Marketplace Party feature is a complete scam. What is the point of making all the user in a party pay to watch the same thing if one user already has it?? That's like me renting a movie from the store, inviting my friends over, and charging them to watch it with me.

    This was probably the MOST worthless update ever. I doubt I'll renew my subscription when it runs out, I'll just go back to PC gaming.

  • tbs76

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 11:08 am PT

    Well, I dont have much to say about the Facebook or Twitter apps, but I sure have a nasty opinion of the Zune video marketplace feature. Started a video party the other night and had 3 of my good friends waiting to watch a movie I just purchased . When I decided to start I recieved a message that all users had to purchase the same content. Wow, can you say rip off loud enough. I thought this feature would be sharable if only one person bought the content, but I guess not. What I deemed as an Xbox live trump card is just another marketing blunder that I for one will never use again because of this. I can just go to the video store and invite friends over instead. Way to go Ripoffsoft!

  • Petch1984

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 11:05 am PT

    Have you tried web browsers through a TV? It's like playing a below average ZX Spectrum game - only more sluggish and at 0.3 fps.

  • strayfies

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 10:42 am PT

    2 million people might need to realize that 2 million of their friends don't really care what they have to say, and are probably just being courteous.

  • HaLoMaStErJT

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 10:17 am PT

    or you can just use it on the pc

  • BtmnHatesRbn

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 10:03 am PT

    I predict that, the next day, 2 million Xbox 360 users never used these services ever again, realizing that it's a waste of their 360 console and their TV screen.

  • ivanraik

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:55 am PT

    @huerito323
    well you say that the 360 charge you money to play online, I'm agree with that, but why microsoft try to call your attention to become gold member and you'll be able to use twitter and facebook in the 360 wow that's so cheap from microsoft.

  • MRBOOTH007

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:47 am PT

    this doesnt really mean anything im sure all of us with a 360 just wanted to look and see what facebook looked like on it...and never use it again cuz its too plain...cant even chat...

  • RedSoxfan67

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:32 am PT

    i only used twitter on the 360 once

  • ---Cipher---

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:14 am PT

    I used it for my FB once...only to see what it was....haven't used it since...Horay I can see my own facebook on my TV instead of my computer that is a good 2 feet away...

  • cantor2537

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:11 am PT

    I logged on to FB once just to check it out. I have my laptop next to me in my room where my 360 is. Absolutely no reason for me to use my 360 to post on FB when my laptop is right next to me. Kind of a waste of time and money if you ask me.

  • Gaara79

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 9:06 am PT

    I'm not one of them. I'd like to keep my Farmville updates and my 360 seperate

  • SiD_N64

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:55 am PT

    Im i the only person that uses my Xbox for games...Not to twitter how big my dump was...

  • jobo030

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:51 am PT

    how is this news its a free service. This just in 6 billion people got up this morning.

  • Nihonomaru

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:43 am PT

    Lmao @ Dere nice one .

  • ptown58

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:43 am PT

    I dont consider these actual updates and I dont use any of these programs ever,"1.7 million peruse Zune video store. " you dont have a choice but to use the "Zune video store" I watched a Guild ep and had no choice but to use it. (i dont get it)

  • twistedmalice

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:29 am PT

    Nice. I like last.fm, and I am already facebook user. Kudos to Microsoft.

  • jadefury27

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 8:09 am PT

    i was hoping they'd make mafia wars available to xbx live...they already have achievements so why not?

  • swamptick

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:53 am PT

    After all, it's not like adding this feature hurt anything. Good move by Microsoft.

  • 1425678786655

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:52 am PT

    hooray for social networking on xbl!

    gotta love not having to leave my living room to go check my facebook on the computer

  • alexLmx6

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:46 am PT

    havent got it yet, i guess since i havent taken forza 3 out of my box for nearly a month now, see how long i can avoid it i think

  • swamptick

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:44 am PT

    It's cool all of the Sony people are so interested in this. I love Sony fans obsession with Xbox. We thank you for your interest!

  • swamptick

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:44 am PT

    Xbox Live just keeps getting better.

  • XKing2

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 7:27 am PT

    Who cares about being on facebook on an Xbox?

    I'd rather be playing one of the great games coming out this year.

    I already have a laptop for Facebook.

  • karim96

    Posted Nov 25, 2009 6:39 am PT

    I So wish that i had XBOX LIVE :S :S :S

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