View Full Version : Xbox Live Silver To Be Re-named to Xbox Live Free Membership
The Sith
10-20-2010, 18:00
October 19th, 2010
Xbox Community Manager Graeme Boyd, better known as AceyBongos on twitter has tweeted that he has got word saying that Xbox Live silver was now being branded as Xbox Live Free Membership.
Now all of you thinking that there now doing a PSN move here we free online gaming will be wrong. There will be no change to the services in which Silver members recieve.
I amsume the rename will be apart of the new Xbox.com facelift being released 0900 GMT tomorrow.
http://lifeongames.com/xbox-live-silver-to-be-re-named-to-xbox-live-free-membership/
well renaming it still won't allow you to plau on-line free.
Paving the way for a Platinum membership?
~d
MATRIX 2
10-20-2010, 18:07
Is this really even necessary, silver was fine.
Galvanise_
10-20-2010, 18:12
Paving the way for a Platinum membership?
~d
I would think so.
Bostonmess
10-20-2010, 18:29
They should change the gold one to: Xbox Live Not Free.
I am guessing this is to make it really clear that the service is free and to differentiate it from the paid plan.
Silver - Gold is not a big distinction, but going from the word FREE to GOLD shows a difference in level of access more clearly
MATRIX 2
10-20-2010, 19:48
I am guessing this is to make it really clear that the service is free and to differentiate it from the paid plan.
Silver - Gold is not a big distinction, but going from the word FREE to GOLD shows a difference in level of access more clearly
ehh, I know people aren't always on top of things, but is anyone really that oblivious? It says it on every 360 box, gold has a fee, silver is free.
ehh, I know people aren't always on top of things, but is anyone really that oblivious? It says it on every 360 box, gold has a fee, silver is free.
True... but this could be a more strategic marketing technique to make people want to upgrade. Label something "FREE" denotes cheapness, GOLD means full featured...
LOL
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 20:01
You get nothing with "Free" unlike PSN.. Dunno why they'd bother advertising that.
MATRIX 2
10-20-2010, 20:07
True... but this could be a more strategic marketing technique to make people want to upgrade. Label something "FREE" denotes cheapness, GOLD means full featured...
LOL
Why bother with silver when you can have gold.
ManFurismoJive
10-20-2010, 20:16
You get nothing with "Free" unlike PSN.. Dunno why they'd bother advertising that.
I thought you still got demo's, video's, themes etc etc with the Free Live service? Dont you get the same as PSN but you cant play online? Saying that you could be totally right as i have had Xbox Live for 7 years and have never had the free service :)
Metfanant
10-20-2010, 20:26
I thought you still got demo's, video's, themes etc etc with the Free Live service? Dont you get the same as PSN but you cant play online? Saying that you could be totally right as i have had Xbox Live for 7 years and have never had the free service :)
all of the special features like Netflix, ESPN integration and stuff like that require a Gold subscription on XBL
ManFurismoJive
10-20-2010, 20:33
all of the special features like Netflix, ESPN integration and stuff like that require a Gold subscription on XBL
Yeah, i didnt mention any of that, i did expect you would have to pay though as Sky Sports i pay a subscription for the TV and Love Film for Blurays which is the UK equalivant of the two. I have PSN+ but i dont get anything like that free?
skynet212
10-20-2010, 20:42
Matrix 2 i worked at gamestop for 5 years and u would be surprised on how dumb people are even though its right in front of them lol
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:05
I thought you still got demo's, video's, themes etc etc with the Free Live service? Dont you get the same as PSN but you cant play online? Saying that you could be totally right as i have had Xbox Live for 7 years and have never had the free service :)
You basically get all of PSN's features with the "Free version"- given that it was there for years before the premium service was even in its infancy stages.
ManFurismoJive
10-20-2010, 21:09
You basically get all of PSN's features with the "Free version"- given that it was there for years before the premium service was even in its infancy stages.
Just when you said you dont get anything free? Seemed really strange to me as i thought you still got a fair amount you just couldnt play online.
all of the special features like Netflix, ESPN integration and stuff like that require a Gold subscription on XBL
Which is totally stupid.
Twitter, facebook - need gold, yet there FREE services.
XBL, to me, isnt worth $70 a year.. thats one less game a year.. though I got more friends on PSN, so I play my PS3 more often.
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:23
Just when you said you dont get anything free? Seemed really strange to me as i thought you still got a fair amount you just couldnt play online.
What? I was referring to Xbox Live Silver. With this "Silver" XBL you basically get nothing, so I don't know why they'd change the name and call it "XBL Free".
PSN you get plenty for nothing.
let not turn this into a live vs PSN thread.....
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:27
Snowball effect.
Besides the reason they may be changing this is to adapt to the competitions strategies. What would the differences be between XBL Gold and XBL Platinum (theory)?
Higher subscription fees but more content? Or I suppose X amount of MS points monthly? But if that were the case there'd really be no point in paying extra per year if the cash amount simply transferred into MS point wages.
There would need to be exclusive content\items for you.
Like Pez said.. keep the comparisons out of this... we all know what is and isn't on each service.
Discuss the name change
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:32
Uh you discuss the name change because there is a reason FOR the change- So you discuss it. For example Daev and Galv mentioned Platinum memberships, which denotes there would be a change from Gold --> Platinum. Extra goodies.
Its hard to not address the legitimate reasons for doing this..
Strung Out
10-20-2010, 21:34
I don't even know why they need the word free..
"XBOX LIVE"
"XBOX LIVE GOLD"
Keep the clueless uninformed till they sign up and realize what they need to pay for. That's the evil corporation inside of me talking...
I can't see them making another tier...if they do it will be in the US only...you can't get any of the decent features outside of the US anyhow.
I already pay the same amount as americans for less features, it's already annoying... another tier especially if they stripped some current gold features out would be even more annoying.
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:36
Silver has been around for so long now, to me the change would only cause confusion. For long term and initial buyers.
i honestly wouldnt be bothered what the difference would be between platinum and gold, i would still pay the fee regardless because xbox live is simply the best service out there (imo)
Vulgotha
10-20-2010, 21:39
But what would be included with "platinum"? That's the question being asked here, at least by me.
How would they price it?
ManFurismoJive
10-20-2010, 21:43
What? I was referring to Xbox Live Silver. With this "Silver" XBL you basically get nothing, so I don't know why they'd change the name and call it "XBL Free".
PSN you get plenty for nothing.
Dont you get demo's, video's, Themes etc etc with the free/silver version? I thought it was quite similar to PSN but no online play?
But what would be included with "platinum"? That's the question being asked here, at least by me.
How would they price it?
platinum could be the current gold, then they could have a mid tier just including online play and some perks.
they cant really expand on what is currently available unless they have a ton of stuff planned for us.
Dont you get demo's, video's, Themes etc etc with the free/silver version? I thought it was quite similar to PSN but no online play?
yep you do.
I was hopeing that they would have sliver members play on line for free but MS still wont do it.
if the online was actually free id buy a 360 with consideration of the new slick model but as long as im paying for and isp im not going to pay microsoft to use what im already paying for.
I was hopeing that they would have sliver members play on line for free but MS still wont do it.
That could be the next step.
Xbox live Free-the silver now
Xbox Live Silver- Acess to play games online, demos, and themes 29.99
Xbox live Gold-What it is now with espn and all that jazz 59.99 or what ever they raised the price to lol.
sainraja
10-21-2010, 02:06
Netflix, Facebook and Twitter should NOT be part of Gold membership. They should be available to Silver....ehmm....XBL Free users.
if the online was actually free id buy a 360 with consideration of the new slick model but as long as im paying for and isp im not going to pay microsoft to use what im already paying for.
well, you don't pay Microsoft to use the internet... :roll:
Netflix, Facebook and Twitter should NOT be part of Gold membership. They should be available to Silver....ehmm....XBL Free users.
Microsoft, so far, disagrees.
unicron7
10-21-2010, 02:41
You have to have gold in order to use netflix? What a crock. Glad I have it enabled on my PS3....for free.
Vulgotha
10-21-2010, 03:30
Gold is required.
Gold is required.
lol Vulg. Out of all the discussions we've had on here since it was known to be a Gold only perk... he knew already. I think he was being sarcastic there; throwing in the PS3 is free part to add salt to the wound.
Yeah, Gold is required Unicron. :roll:
Vulgotha
10-21-2010, 03:56
Yea I was being a smart@$$.
dang these interwebz r serious. :snicker
sainraja
10-21-2010, 04:05
well, you don't pay Microsoft to use the internet... :roll:
Microsoft, so far, disagrees.
Well, yeah, I know that. I think they can increase the value a 360 offers out-of-box (without Gold) if Netflix was an X360 feature instead of a XBL Live feature. They should have done it the day Netflix announced their software will be available on the PS3 & Wii.
--
It's not as big a deal to me NOW as it was a few months back, well ever since Netflix was announced for the PS3, but it would have been nice.
Well, while I'm paying for Gold for other features, might as well get that feature too I guess. It wouldn't matter either way to me, since I'd be paying for Gold anyways. However, I do agree with ya that it would be more valuable for Silver users if they could use those apps w/o paying for Gold.
sainraja
10-21-2010, 04:13
It's nice as a subscriber to get more benefits and I (kinda) see that -- but I'd prefer if those benefits were actual benefits over something being blocked from free users simply to give me more benefits. Back in February when I got into Lost -- I would have been on X360 watching Lost if it wasn't for Gold. (I did for a few days on a new free account w/ one month free.
EDIT:
I feel I should clarify (just re-read my post):
"..over something being blocked from free users simply to give me more benefits."
I understand that you wouldn't care if MS were to change it to free. So......if that confused ya, apologies...
There will always be stuff that subs get over people that don't sub though. It's the nature of the beast. You can't possibly have it any other way. No matter what benefits they have, free users won't get things that paid users do.
higgos22
10-21-2010, 04:25
It sound sbetter I reckon then Silver? Silver sounds second best where as free is yeh I dont wanna pay...
Even if it is no different and a platinum mebership? wonder if it would be made worth it?
sainraja
10-21-2010, 04:36
There will always be stuff that subs get over people that don't sub though. It's the nature of the beast. You can't possibly have it any other way. No matter what benefits they have, free users won't get things that paid users do.
I understand all that, just don't like it really. They should make it available to free users now though -- if only to match the PS3 + Wii. Of course, it's probably not gonna happen (just yet...)
radgamer420
10-21-2010, 04:41
MS Can call it whatever they want but it still doesn't change the fact that they charge you to play online and that they even raised the price.
MATRIX 2
10-21-2010, 06:12
I understand all that, just don't like it really. They should make it available to free users now though -- if only to match the PS3 + Wii. Of course, it's probably not gonna happen (just yet...)
As long as people are willing to pay for it, why should they? They get around a somewhere from $500 million to a billion every year just from subscriptions.
If Microsoft ever makes Gold (online gameplay) free, it won't be with the 360. You will have to wait for the next xbox at the earliest.
TDbank24
10-21-2010, 06:16
What is the point of that? It sounds cheesy and if you're going to keep the name Xbox Live Gold, and then add a Platinum service why wouldn't you want to keep it simple and just stick with silver as the name?
Bostonmess
10-21-2010, 18:22
i honestly wouldnt be bothered what the difference would be between platinum and gold, i would still pay the fee regardless because xbox live is simply the best service out there (imo)
Lol! Compared to what? ;) :D
Metfanant
10-22-2010, 07:36
Like Pez said.. keep the comparisons out of this... we all know what is and isn't on each service.
well its painfully obvious that that statement is not true considering there is/was a couple of posts by people in this thread confused about what is offered with a silver membership...
its also impossible to discuss the name change, without discussing possible reasons why...if one of those potential reasons is for better alignment with competitor's offerings...then comparisons need to be made..
Dont you get demo's, video's, Themes etc etc with the free/silver version? I thought it was quite similar to PSN but no online play?
its very similar...except you can't play online...and you don't have access to any of the features like Facebook, Netflix, and all that jazz...
basically its just demos and themes and such....you get very little with a Silver/Free membership...
There will always be stuff that subs get over people that don't sub though. It's the nature of the beast. You can't possibly have it any other way. No matter what benefits they have, free users won't get things that paid users do.
this is obvious...i think there are just people that take the stance on things like Netflix where they are already paying a monthly fee for the service...then they have to pay for Live just to access something they already pay for...i think that is a fair gripe...
this is obvious...i think there are just people that take the stance on things like Netflix where they are already paying a monthly fee for the service...then they have to pay for Live just to access something they already pay for...i think that is a fair gripe...
I agree 100% with that gripe too, for those who don't already own a Gold sub. Since I already have a Gold sub, it's something extra for me. Now, I feel both ways to be honest though. In my living room, my 360 has a Gold sub. In my bedroom it doesn't. So I can't stream Netflix in my bedroom via the 360. I do have a PS3 in there though, so I can lol. It's all so confusing at times.
ManFurismoJive
10-22-2010, 11:53
As long as people are willing to pay for it, why should they? They get around a somewhere from $500 million to a billion every year just from subscriptions.
If Microsoft ever makes Gold (online gameplay) free, it won't be with the 360. You will have to wait for the next xbox at the earliest.
I cant see MS throwing away 1 billion dollar profit a year that Live generates.
Metfanant
10-22-2010, 19:36
I agree 100% with that gripe too, for those who don't already own a Gold sub. Since I already have a Gold sub, it's something extra for me. Now, I feel both ways to be honest though. In my living room, my 360 has a Gold sub. In my bedroom it doesn't. So I can't stream Netflix in my bedroom via the 360. I do have a PS3 in there though, so I can lol. It's all so confusing at times.
bahaha! exactly...
I'm with you though...i would be paying for Live Gold if it had Netflix or not...i couldn't own my 360 and not be able to play games like Reach and not have an online component...so its no big deal....im gonna pay the extra money anyways...
however it is rather nice that these same features (and sometimes better versions) are available on the other console without the extra money...