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Xbox Live Silver Renaming to Free as of Next Update
Post by Dan @ 02:54pm 21/10/10 | 13 Comments
Not hugely exciting news, but one to remember for future reference: Europe Xbox Community Manager Graeme Boyd has confirmed "that 'Xbox LIVE Silver Membership' will now officially be called 'Xbox LIVE Free Membership'.".

The change accompanies today's relaunch of the xbox.com site, which you'll notice now includes a whole lot more Kinect promotion.

Additionally, it looks like the paid "Gold" subscriptions will be getting some more value-add soon with the introduction of "deal of the week" promos that will see selected Live Arcade titles offered at discounted prices to Gold level users only. Major Nelson's blog has more details on that one.

No reason has been given for the "Silver" to "Free" name change, although can't you just imagine an MS marketing exec using the "second is the first loser" line?

Speaking of cringe-inducing marketing. Check out this new Kinect TV spot.

Kinect is due on Australian shelves November 18th 2010 with an RRP of AUD$199.


xbox 360kinectxbox live





Latest Comments
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Vash
Posted 02:56pm 21/10/10
is it free to play online yet? Microsoft throw billions away at the Xbox to get in the market yet charge a fee just to use their online service? Why can't they go the path of Sony?

Meh.
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Sc00bs
Posted 03:04pm 21/10/10
is anyone actually going to buy kinetic or move?

They look absolutely s***house
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Dan
Posted 03:04pm 21/10/10
Nope, in fact prices are going up in other territories on Nov 1st (not in Australia yet though).
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groganus
Posted 04:13pm 21/10/10
Im interested in the kinect purely on a "gimmik" level.

Single me would of snapped it up on release, with all the release titles.
Married with children me is just going to sit back and see if there is any decent potential in it.
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Eorl
Posted 04:26pm 21/10/10
Microsoft – Hey look everyone, we have an Free* online service like Sony! So you all can’t say that we don’t offer a Free* service, because we now do!

Free* online service, here at Microsoft

* – Note, if you want to do anything significant with the online service, you will still have to pay though…
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MoSFXx
Posted 11:31pm 21/10/10
it's been a while since i've logged on to PSN but for the small price i pay for Xbox Live a year they sure provide a better service then what sony did.
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Enska
Posted 11:52pm 21/10/10
Why the f*** should people have to pay to have internet on their console anyway?
Do apple/mac(whatever name they call themselves) charge people to be on the net on their iPhones, or do the provider they are with?
Last time I checked, I was already getting a bill from my provider for my net usage. go figure.
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Mantorok
Posted 11:55pm 21/10/10
Why the f*** should people have to pay to have internet on their console anyway?
You're not being charged for internet access, you're being charged for multiplayer and matchmaking services.
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Dazhel
Posted 12:11am 22/10/10
No reason has been given for the "Silver" to "Free" name change


I've got an xbox live silver membership and I don't mind the name change. It is what it is, might as well call it what it is.

It's good that gold subscriptions are providing more value though. The announcement of the foxtel deal where the 360 can act as a internet streaming set top box is a nice move, of course for a small additional fee.
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Enska
Posted 12:15am 22/10/10
which is only available when you connect an ethernet cord to your console. If that's the case why cant I still download dlc and such without having to pay a fee to access content that requires paying a fee.
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Whoop
Posted 12:17am 22/10/10
You're not being charged for the internet on your console. You can still download content (provided you have microsoft points) and whatever on silver/free memberships but certain other services are for paying customers only.

Why the f*** should people have to pay to have internet on their console anyway?
Do apple/mac(whatever name they call themselves) charge people to be on the net on their iPhones, or do the provider they are with?
Last time I checked, I was already getting a bill from my provider for my net usage. go figure.

Because they're providing a 3rd party service, they aren't your ISP. That would be like asking why itunes asks you to pay to download stuff when you already pay your ISP for access to downloads. MS has nothing at all to do with your ISP and gets no revenue from your monthly ISP subscription.
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Enska
Posted 12:33am 22/10/10
Ah, my apologies. I was always under the impression that a silver sub still cost $$, just not as much as Gold.
It all makes sense now.
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Mantorok
Posted 12:35am 22/10/10
If that's the case why cant I still download dlc and such without having to pay a fee to access content that requires paying a fee.
Huh? You can download DLC without a Gold account, Gold members just get access to downloads a week early.
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