Microsoft mulls phone-style contracts for Xbox
Subsidised console coming?
Microsoft has plans for a subscription package that'll offer customers an Xbox 360 console and Kinect add-on, as well as access to the Xbox Live Gold service and media content, for a monthly fee.
The two-year Xbox subscription could be launched in the US as early as next week, the Verge reports.
Microsoft will punt a 4GB Xbox 360 console and Kinect sensor for $99 (£61) as long as customers agree to sign up to the $15 (£9) per month package, which will come with Gold membership, a bunch of additional streaming services and a two-year warranty, it's claimed.
With the Redmond firm set to launch its own Spotify service at E3 2012, and new streamed content hitting the Xbox 360 platform on a regular basis, a subscription to get the lot seems a shrewd move by Microsoft.
Who can offer the best all-encompassing home entertainment setup? The battle continues... ®
COMMENTS
Re: I'm guessing
In before Barry Shitpeas comes along to slate the world's best selling console and accessory - oh balls. Too late. You're on fire today Barry. Shame it's not literally on fire.
Look at the savings!
At full MSRP, taxes excluded, you save a whole... -$24.03... over those two years! With this bundle, you'd spend a total of $459 for the setup over two years versus the $299.99 for the same console and Kinect bundle, $74.99 for the 12-month Gold starter kit with mic and keypad, and $59.99 for the additional 12-month Gold card, a grand total of $434.97.
Or... you could get it off Amazon right now and pay $283..40 for the system and Kinect, for the starter kit, and $48.41 for the additional 12 months gold card, a total cost of $394.59 with free shipping.
Eh, whatever. It's not as if the average person does math (or maths, if you will) anyway.
Re: Look at the savings!
"Eh, whatever. It's not as if the average person does math (or maths, if you will) anyway."
This is the relationship between fools and money in a nutshell. Heck, I've had more than a few occasions of watching a customer in McDonalds (as an Englishman, I sometimes crave bland dissapointment) order a burger, fries, and drink individually, and pay 'idiot tax'.
Makes a great business case for all the 'payday' loan companies that have sprung over the past few years.
Re: Look at the savings!
Why not just stick a coin slot on the bloody thing and send a bloke round every fortnight to empty it!
"Afternoon miss, just to come to empty ya box!"
"What day is the Microsoft man due?"
"Hello, xbox customer support - I've got a serious blockage, can you come quickly!"
Mines the one with pockets full of 50p coins!
Go Microsoft!!!
Let's see...blocking the ability to play second-hand games, and now cellphone-style contracts? What could possibly go wrong? Everyone loves contracts...
Oh well there's always the PS4...crap.
Oh well there's always PC gam...double crap.
