Just over half of Xbox 360 owners pay to play online

[Zeus]

A leaked internal document reportedly reveals that just over half of all Xbox 360 members are Gold subscribers. Microsoft has been relatively shy about declaring the break-down between silver and Gold members, but now it seems like the cat has been let out of the bag so to speak.



Just more than half of Xbox 360 owners who use the video game console's online service pay to play games online, according to an internal Microsoft document reviewed by the Seattle P-I.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 team regularly releases figures showing the popularity of its Xbox Live service, but the company has always declined to break down exactly how many pay to use it.

Microsoft offers two tiers of Xbox Live: A free "silver" subscription that gives users access to downloadable content and a paid "gold" subscription that allows members to play games with others online.

The Excel workbook seen by the P-I dates from February 2008 and includes Microsoft's internal projections only to June 2008. It therefore predates the launch of the New Xbox Experience, which introduced several additional features to the service and may have boosted the percentage of Xbox Live members willing to pay.


News Source: <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/archives/161658.asp" target="_blank">SeattlePI</a>

[Salmon-Face]

Suddenly, a whole block of news appeared!

[jkadaks]

If anything, this is an indicator that ms should drop the price to live gold service, or at least make a free gold accounts with limited features.

[EL_CAD]

If anything, this is an indicator that ms should drop the price to live gold service, or at least make a free gold accounts with limited features.

Or at least make the $30 for 13months sale price, the regular price. My biggest complaint with Live is that it is tied to my ID and not my console, since I live with other people who would also like to game online under their own names.

[QrafTee]

If anything, this is an indicator that ms should drop the price to live gold service, or at least make a free gold accounts with limited features.

Sir, that's called a Silver Account.

[Anil8tr]

If anything, this is an indicator that ms should drop the price to live gold service, or at least make a free gold accounts with limited features.

In what way? I bet if you looked into actual numbers of the other consoles, not everyone that owns them plays online with them. It has absolutely nothing to do with cost. They may be in areas where their internet is too slow to support it. Stats can always be skewed. Also, it doesn't say how many users are using XLink Kai either. They may be playing a hell of a lot more MP than the Gold user. And it's free!

[DEDDOA]

If anything, this is an indicator that ms should drop the price to live gold service, or at least make a free gold accounts with limited features.


Thats not how it works in any business. If people are willing to pay, then they have no incentive to drop the price (this one of the reasons that sony give for not dropping the PS3 price, not a dig at the PS3 there just an example).

If products or services sell at a given price, and sell at a high enough rate, more often than not the provider won't drop prices. However, if there is a drop in people paying or there is competition, then there is reason for a price drop.

So unless a large number of people stop paying for live, or somhow a rival service is launched, the price will stay the same.

[twEAkEd]

In what way? I bet if you looked into actual numbers of the other consoles, not everyone that owns them plays online with them. It has absolutely nothing to do with cost. They may be in areas where their internet is too slow to support it. Stats can always be skewed. Also, it doesn't say how many users are using XLink Kai either. They may be playing a hell of a lot more MP than the Gold user. And it's free!


I think when I was working with Sega on sega.net the most we ever saw online at one time was 8000 peeps. That wasnt even a third of the ppl who bought dreamcasts. If MS got half a million Im impressed. Peeps dont buy consoles to go online.

[sirxlaughs]

Or at least make the $30 for 13months sale price, the regular price. My biggest complaint with Live is that it is tied to my ID and not my console, since I live with other people who would also like to game online under their own names.

I always buy the cards online for around 38 dollars (13 months). The Live account is tied to your name, gamertag, points account, etc. I think that's part of the reason why it's all tied to each account and not each console.

[msanchez]

I think that gaming over the net is over rated and would probably not pay ANY fee to do so. If I have the option to play online is a plus for that day I do feel like it, but I would take playing splitscreen with friends any day over playing over the net. Now I realize some play with their family/friends who are far away, but apparently that's not the case for the majority of 360 owners.

[Mikeyy]

This is bad news. The NO. 1 Feature this gen has without a Doubt been Online gaming.

I need to look up some numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSN
As of January 8, 2009, there are 17 million active registered PlayStation Network accounts worldwide

(This number seems high, and a google search shows that as of Nov. PSN had 14 million acct's. From a Sony Press release. Still trying to find a January 8, 2009 press release) Even if it was 14 million thats still DAMN impressive.

17 million PSN "active" accounts out of 20 million PSN owners.
http://www.vgchartz.com/

----------------------
On January 6, 2009, Microsoft announced there were 17 million members
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_live
(Is that GOLD and Silver? Or just GOLD?)

17 million online players out 28 Million Xbox 360 owners.
http://www.vgchartz.com/

MS has to be cryptic instead of just giving us the god damn numbers (do they fear numbers?) if HALF of total playerbase is Gold members (as the article above states, then 28 mill / 2 = 14 million Gold players. (and 3 million silver?)

It looks like the pay to play is hurting Live.

[buddha]

Suddenly, a whole block of news appeared!

Maybe zeus awoke from his coma :)

[knarlockk]

Only idiots pay to play online. Peer to peer even.

[EL_CAD]

I always buy the cards online for around 38 dollars (13 months). The Live account is tied to your name, gamertag, points account, etc. I think that's part of the reason why it's all tied to each account and not each console.

I guess it's nice that I can game elsewhere with my ID, but I'd rather have the ability for my guest and family to game online when they come to visit me.

[sirxlaughs]

I guess it's nice that I can game elsewhere with my ID, but I'd rather have the ability for my guest and family to game online when they come to visit me.

Some games allow users to login as a guest under a main account. I've done it with a few games and my friends.

[Punyetta]

This is bad news. The NO. 1 Feature this gen has without a Doubt been Online gaming.

I need to look up some numbers.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSN
As of January 8, 2009, there are 17 million active registered PlayStation Network accounts worldwide

(This number seems high, and a google search shows that as of Nov. PSN had 14 million acct's. From a Sony Press release. Still trying to find a January 8, 2009 press release) Even if it was 14 million thats still DAMN impressive.

17 million PSN "active" accounts out of 20 million PSN owners.
http://www.vgchartz.com/

----------------------
On January 6, 2009, Microsoft announced there were 17 million members
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_live
(Is that GOLD and Silver? Or just GOLD?)

17 million online players out 28 Million Xbox 360 owners.
http://www.vgchartz.com/

MS has to be cryptic instead of just giving us the god damn numbers (do they fear numbers?) if HALF of total playerbase is Gold members (as the article above states, then 28 mill / 2 = 14 million Gold players. (and 3 million silver?)

It looks like the pay to play is hurting Live.




You do know that you can create a PSN account with PS3, PSP or PC, don't you? You don't have to own PS3 to do that. So your stats means jack.

[EL_CAD]

Some games allow users to login as a guest under a main account. I've done it with a few games and my friends.

OK, I'll have to try a few more games.