Microsoft have dealt an unexpected blow to its Xbox 360 users by hiking up the prices of their Xbox Gold memberships, Silver accounts amount to nothing and unlike the lucky PS3 users who get free online gaming through wi/fi, avid online-gamers with a 360 must buy a monthly Gold membership if they want to get the most out of their games.
Microsoft’s Major Nelson just announced that Xbox Live Gold will be getting more expensive in the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico starting from November 1.
A single month will go from $7.99 to $9.99, three months will go from $19.99 to $24.99, and the yearly fee will now be $59.99, up from $49.99. The blow has been softened somewhat with a “lock in” promotion for a discounted $40 one-year Gold subscription which will start on the day that the increases come into affect.
Microsoft haven't offered an explanation for their latest move which is bound to be unpopular especial ahead of the Kinect release. It's certainly not going to help the Xbox in its war against the dominant PS3.
And with the latest hit games such as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 being heavily reliant on online play, thus on monthly subscriptions, it seems consumers who already have to fork out top whack for games, into a corner.
The latest theories making the rounds include 'an attempt to increase Entertainment and Devices revenue' to 'inflation adjustment.’
Time for a petition I think…
Source: engadget
One thought on “Xbox live Gold membership prices increase”
Both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 have extremely various ways they’re approaching “waggle gamingâ€, but is it something “proper†Gamers will wish to use